eVTOL News

FlightGlobal

High activity

Vertical Aerospace appoints former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as chair

Vertical Aerospace has appointed former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as chair of its board, effective Sept. 21, 2026. Brégier succeeds Ben Story, who has served as interim chair since May and will remain on the board as the air-taxi developer advances its leadership strategy.

Urban Air Mobility News

Bristow expands Elroy Air Chaparral reservation to 15 autonomous cargo aircraft

Bristow Group has reserved 10 additional early delivery positions for Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft, bringing its total reservation to 15. The expanded commitment strengthens Bristow’s planned role in deploying uncrewed electric cargo aircraft for logistics operations as Elroy advances the Chaparral program.

Joby Aviation

High activity

Joby’s autonomous Cessna Caravan flies 3,199 miles across the U.S. without pilot input

Joby Aviation says a Cessna Caravan equipped with its autonomy technology completed a 3,199-mile transcontinental flight, including takeoffs and landings, without control inputs from the onboard pilot. The demonstration advances the company’s ambitions for autonomous freight and logistics, while a safety pilot remained part of the operation.

Unmanned Airspace

SkyDrive and Verty target commercial eVTOL operations in South Korea by 2028

Japan’s SkyDrive has signed an MOU with South Korea’s Verty to assess commercial eVTOL services from 2028, including short-distance sightseeing and inter-city routes. The partnership will address the integrated operating framework required for deployment, spanning flight operations, air traffic management and vertiport infrastructure.

Flying Magazine

High activity

Electra selects Atlas Group to build EL9 hybrid-electric prototypes for flight testing and certification

Electra has chosen U.S. aerospace manufacturer Atlas Group to produce and assemble the first pre-production airframes for its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The agreement advances Electra’s program toward flight testing, certification and eventual commercial production.

Urban Air Mobility News

Samson Sky secures $80 million investment to establish U.S. Switchblade production

Dubai-based Matin Group is investing $80 million in Samson Sky, funding plans for the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility and production of the Switchblade flying car. The investment strengthens Samson Sky’s path from development toward commercial manufacturing in the emerging advanced air mobility market.

AeroTime

Horizon Aircraft CEO targets the helicopter market, not rival eVTOL developers

Horizon Aircraft CEO Brandon Robinson says the company’s ambition is to shake up the helicopter industry, arguing that eVTOL developers are not its primary competitors. The positioning frames Horizon’s strategy around challenging established helicopter operators and manufacturers as it seeks to outmaneuver its rivals.

The Air Current

Regent’s Viceroy Seaglider Completes First Crewed Flight, Targeting 2027 Production

Rhode Island-based Regent Craft has flown its all-electric Viceroy seaglider with people aboard for the first time, advancing a vehicle designed for coastal transportation using wing-in-ground effect. The company says it plans to begin manufacturing commercial seagliders by the end of 2027, under a regulatory pathway distinct from conventional aircraft.