EVTOL

File:Mk3 Speeder in South Australia, 2021.jpg

The concept of eVTOL aircraft emerged in 2009 when a video of the NASA Puffin eVTOL concept{{Citation|title=NASA Puffin Low Noise, Electric VTOL Personal Air Vehicle| date=11 November 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhpPhvWvLgk|language=en|access-date=2021-11-04}} went viral on November 11, 2009, showcasing a single person concept rendering of the technology, and concept in flight. Following this, the first Puffin paper at the VFS Specialists Conference on Aeromechanics, on January 9, 2010. This concept utilized a new technology developed at NASA called Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP). Additional Puffin papers were published on September 13 at the 10th AIAA ATIO Conference, NASA Puffin Electric Tailsitter VTOL Concept{{Citation|last=Moore|first=Mark|title=NASA Puffin Electric Tailsitter VTOL Concept|date=2010-09-13|url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2010-9345|work=10th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference|series=Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conferences|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|doi=10.2514/6.2010-9345|access-date=2021-11-04|hdl=2060/20110011311|isbn=978-1-62410-159-5 |hdl-access=free}} and Puffin Redundant Electric Powertrain System.{{Citation|last1=Seegers|first1=Bryan|title=Puffin Redundant Electric Propulsion Powertrain System|date=2010-09-13|url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2010-9383|work=10th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference|series=Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conferences|publisher=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|doi=10.2514/6.2010-9383|access-date=2021-11-04|last2=Guthrie|first2=Brian|last3=Fontana|first3=Richard|isbn=978-1-62410-159-5 }} This was fast followed in 2011 by several industry efforts, namely the AugustaWestland Project Zero (Italy), the Volocopter VC1 (Germany) and the Opener BlackFly (US).{{Cite web|title=eVTOL Timeline|url=https://evtol.news/resources/evtol-timeline|access-date=2020-09-23|website=evtol.news|language=en}} It was officially introduced by the Vertical Flight Society and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in 2014 during the "Transformative Vertical Flight Concepts Joint Workshop on Enabling New Flight Concepts through Novel Propulsion and Energy Architectures" held in Virginia.{{Cite web|title=AHS International Leads Transformative Vertical Flight Initiative|url=https://evtol.news/news/ahs-international-leads-transformative-vertical-flight-initiative|access-date=2020-09-23|website=evtol.news|language=en}}

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Since then, there has been a significant increase in interest among aircraft manufacturers for eVTOLs, and companies such as Boeing, Airbus and Bell have also worked on the technology:{{Cite web|title=The eVTOL Industry in Transition|url=https://evtol.news/news/the-evtol-industry-in-transition|access-date=2020-09-23|website=evtol.news|language=en}}

• Airbus A³ Vahana introduced in 2017 at the Paris Air Show,{{Cite web|date=2019-06-21|title=Paris Air Show: the race for cleaner skies|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20190621-paris-2019-air-show-race-cleaner-skies|access-date=2020-09-23|website=RFI|language=en}} first flight in January 2018
• Boeing - Aurora Flight Sciences PAV, in development since 2017, first flight in 2019
• Bell Nexus 6HX unveiled at the CESp 2019

In addition to these major aircraft manufacturers, startups have been playing an important role in the development of these air vehicles and had sometimes been leaders in technological advances.{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Kate|date=12 July 2018|title=Opener Reveals Ultralight eVTOL|url=https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Opener-Reveals-Ultralight-eVTOL-231121-1.html|access-date=13 July 2018|work=AVweb|archive-date=27 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127092714/https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Opener-Reveals-Ultralight-eVTOL-231121-1.html|url-status=dead}}

Uber published a paper on a project called Elevate co-authored by Jeff Holden, Nikhil Goel, and Mark Moore.{{cite web |last1=Goel |first1=Nikhil |title=Fast-Forwarding to a Future of On-Demand Urban Air Transportation |url=https://www.uber.com/elevate.pdf |website=Uber Elevate |access-date=2021-05-21 |archive-date=2021-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703222144/https://www.uber.com/elevate.pdf |url-status=dead }} The paper outlined the feasibility of an on-demand aviation transportation system. That document, along with subsequent annual Elevate summits the company hosted from 2017 to 2019, helped advance the concepts of eVTOL aircraft and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) from a science-fiction concept to a potential aerospace sector pursued by dozens of development projects.{{Cite web |url= https://evtol.com/features/uber-offload-elevate-joby-aviation/ |title= Uber reportedly in talks to offload Elevate to Joby Aviation |work= eVTOL.com |date= December 3, 2020 |author= Brian Garrett-Glaser |access-date= July 13, 2021 |archive-date= July 16, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210716131727/https://evtol.com/features/uber-offload-elevate-joby-aviation/ |url-status= dead }}

In December, 2020, Uber's Elevate was acquired by Joby Aviation.{{Cite web |url= https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/12/08/uber-elevate-acquired-joby-aviation |title= Uber Elevate Acquired by Joby Aviation |work= Aviation Today |date= December 8, 2020 |author= Kelsey Reichmann |access-date= July 2, 2021 }} Upon acquisition, Joby CEO JoeBen Bivert said, "The team at Uber Elevate has not only played an important role in our industry, they have also developed a remarkable set of software tools that build on more than a decade of experience enabling on-demand mobility."{{Cite web| url= https://evtol.com/news/joby-aviation-acquires-uber-elevate-75-million-new-funding/| title= It's official: Joby Aviation acquires Uber Elevate, including $75 million in new funding| work= eVTOL.com| date= December 8, 2020| author= Brian Garrett-Glaser| access-date= July 13, 2021| archive-date= January 23, 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220123131222/https://evtol.com/news/joby-aviation-acquires-uber-elevate-75-million-new-funding/| url-status= dead}}

In 2020, Tetra Aviation won the "disruptor award" at the GoFly personal flight contest for its single-seat eVTOL. In 2021, the company announced its Mk5 personal eVTOL that it expects to deliver in 2022. It incorporates 32 vertical lift rotors distributed across long, thin front and rear wings, along with a rear pusher prop for cruising. It uses a mostly aluminum frame, with carbon-fiber/aramid-reinforced polymer bodywork. The craft is {{Convert|8.62|m|abbr=on}} wide, {{Convert|6.15|m|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|2.51|m|abbr=on}} high. The battery pack holds 13.5-kWh. Empty weight is {{Convert|488|kg|abbr=on}} and hosts an up to {{Convert|79|kg|abbr=on}} pilot. The vehicle features at least three flight controllers, driving 32 vertical propellers in the case of motor or flight controller failure, with a parachute in the event of total failure. The plane is to be sold as an experimental kit aircraft that requires only a private pilot license.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-08-04|title=Tetra Aviation debuts single-seat buy 'n' fly personal eVTOL|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/tetra-aviation-mk5-evtol/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

In October 2020 with a $60 million investment in Joby Aviation, a business building an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft intended to provide air cab service, Delta joined the list of airlines funding EV technology startups.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Mikaela |title=How electric air taxis could shake up the airline industry in the next decade |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/03/how-electric-air-taxis-could-shake-up-the-airline-industry.html |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=CNBC |date=3 December 2022 |language=en}}

In 2021, Urban eVTOL announced the Leo, a 3-seat, {{Convert|250|mph|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|300|mi|abbr=on}} vehicle. It hosts 16 40-cm diameter, 10-kw ducted fans for vertical lift, and 6 28 cm diameter, turbine-bladed rear engines for horizontal thrust. The wing is a double box-wing design. The intent is that it be small enough to park in a standard automobile space. The split battery system holds 66-kWh. A ballistic parachute is included. It has yet to fly.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-08-05|title=Urban eVTOL announces Leo, a 250-mph hypercar for the skies|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/urban-evtol-leo-air-hypercar/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

In 2021, Volocopter conducted South Korea's first crewed eVTOL flight.{{Cite web|last=Lavars|first=Nick|date=2021-11-12|title=Volocopter performs South Korea's first crewed air taxi flight|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/volocopter-south-korea-first-air-taxi-flight/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

In November 2021, the National Academy of Sciences published a study{{Cite journal |last1=Sripad|first1=Shashank |last2=Viswanathan|first2=Venkatasubramanian |title=The promise of energy-efficient battery-powered urban aircraft |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |date=2021-11-09 |volume=118 |issue=45 |pages=e2111164118 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2111164118 |pmid=34728567 |pmc=8609345 |arxiv=2106.09513 |bibcode=2021PNAS..11811164S |doi-access=free}} by Shashank Sripad and Venkat Viswanathan of Carnegie Mellon University that showed eVTOL aircraft could have an energy efficiency that is comparable to or higher than terrestrial electric vehicles. The study also assigned a high technological readiness level for battery-powered eVTOLs.

On 19 April 2024, U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced plans to enter the eVTOL business in Asia by 2030, anticipating demand for fast short-distance travel that the vehicles could provide in the region's traffic-choked cities. The company is developing electric vertical take-off and landing craft, which will incorporate autonomous technology, at subsidiary Wisk Aero.{{Cite web |last=SHIGENO |first=ARATA |date=19 April 2024 |title=Boeing aims to bring flying cars to Asia by 2030 |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Boeing-aims-to-bring-flying-cars-to-Asia-by-2030 |access-date=22 April 2024 |website=Nikkei Asia}}

File:BETA Technologies A250 eVTOL Prototype Aircraft.jpg

Four American companies have military airworthiness contracts through the US military's Agility Prime program: Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, Lift Aircraft, and most recently Kitty Hawk, whose Heaviside aircraft was accepted in July 2021.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-07-13|title=Heaviside becomes fourth eVTOL to receive military airworthiness approval|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/kitty-hawk-heaviside-military-airworthiness/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

Archer, Joby, Lilium, and Vertical joined special-purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) to go public.{{Cite web|url=https://verticalmag.com/news/vertical-aerospace-spac-merger-broadstone-bsn/|title=Vertical Aerospace to go public at $2.2 billion valuation with up to 1,000 aircraft pre-orders}} The first was Archer Aviation, who simultaneously announced a $1,000,000,000 order of 200+ aircraft from United Airlines in February 2021.{{cite web |title=Archer lands $1B order from United Airlines and a SPAC deal| url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/10/archer-lands-1-1b-order-from-united-airlines-and-a-spac-deal/| date=February 10, 2021| author=Kirsten Kirosec| publisher=TechCrunch}} Archer was also the first to publicly reveal its Maker aircraft in-person that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/11/22529534/archer-maker-air-taxi-evtol-reveal-specs |title=Air taxi startup Archer shows off small electric aircraft but no flight test| author=Andrew Hawkins| date=June 11, 2021}}

Archer Aviation announced on November 7, 2024 that Japan Airlines and Sumitomo Group's joint venture company, Soracle, have reached agreement on an intended purchase of up to $500m of electric aircraft from Archer Aviation.{{cite web |title=Japan Airlines’ and Sumitomo Corporation’s Joint Venture Company, Soracle, Announces Agreement Including Intended Purchase Of Up To $500M of Electric Aircraft From Archer |date= November 7, 2024 |access-date= December 23, 2024 |publisher= Archer Aviation |url=https://news.archer.com/japan-airlines-and-sumitomo-corporations-joint-venture-company-soracle-announces-agreement-including-intended-purchase-of-up-to-500m-of-electric-aircraft-from-archer}} Taking their total indicative order book value to over US$6 billion.{{cite web |title=Archer Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results, Demonstrating Manufacturing, Certification and Commercial Launch Momentum |date= November 7, 2024 |access-date= December 23, 2024 |publisher= Archer Aviation |url=https://investors.archer.com/news/news-details/2024/Archer-Announces-Third-Quarter-2024-Results-Demonstrating-Manufacturing-Certification-and-Commercial-Launch-Momentum/}}

Vertical Aerospace announced pre-orders for 1,000 eVTOLs in June 2021, including from American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and aircraft lessor, Avalon Holdings.{{cite web |title=Vertical Wins American, Avolon Orders, Plans to Go Public |date= June 10, 2021 |access-date= July 3, 2021 |author= Crystal Tse, Mary Schlangenstein, and Siddharth Vikram Philip |publisher= Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-10/vertical-wins-american-airline-avolon-orders-as-it-goes-public}}

As of March 2024, Embraer had signed contracts with twenty-eight companies for 2,850 orders of eVTOLs, valued at US$8 billion from 30 customers in 13 countries.{{cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Com quase 3 mil encomendas, carro voador da Embraer passa por regulamentação na Anac |trans-title=With almost 3,000 orders, Embraer's flying car undergoes regulation at Anac |url=https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/business/eve-da-embraer-sera-listada-na-nyse-com-valor-de-us-29-bilhoes/ |website=G1 |language=pt}}

File:Boeing Passenger Air Vehicle mockup at Dubai Air Show 2019.jpg

Many designs operate without wings. Multicopters typically use radial arms to host the motors/propellers, such as the Volcopter 2X or the Jetson One.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-10-21|title=Jetson One personal eVTOL looks like a ton of fun to fly|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/jetson-aero-personal-evtol/|access-date=2021-10-23|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

Vectored thrust designs change the direction of thrust, vectoring thrust vertically for takeoff/landing and horizontally while cruising. The entire wing (tilt-wing) can pivot to or just the rotors (tilt-rotor). The Archer Maker,{{Cite web|title=Archer's Maker Aircraft|url=https://www.archer.com/maker|access-date=2021-07-30|website=www.archer.com|language=en}} Lilium Jet, Joby S4,{{Cite web|title=Joby Aviation {{!}} Joby|url=https://www.jobyaviation.com/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=www.jobyaviation.com}} Vertical Aerospace VA-X4, and Zuri 2.0{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2022-01-28|title=Zuri tilts to new propulsion system for its next-gen eVTOL air taxi|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/zuri-hybrid-evtol/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} are tilt-rotor craft. The AMSL Aero Vertiia uses a hybrid that pivots the rotor-holding part of its otherwise fixed box wing design.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-10-26|title=Unique Aussie box-wing eVTOL promises radical efficiency and huge range|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/vertiia-australia-most-efficient-evtol/|access-date=2021-10-31|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} Another approach to thrust vectoring is to use flaps to divert air coming from a horizontal motor downward to create lift. Craft Aero is notable for its box wing that is attached to the bottom of the fuselage in the front and the top of the fuselage in the back, presenting a diamond shape when viewed from above. The design includes a turbine generator for increased range.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-09-21|title=Craft Aero proposes a new type of blown diamond box-wing 9-seat eVTOL|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/craft-aero-evtol-diamond-blown-wing/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} Odys Aviation vectors thrust from its 16 motors by extending flaps that direct the backward-traveling air downward at take-off and landing.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2022-02-15|title=Co-founder James Dorris explains Odys Aviation's unique VTOL design|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/odys-evtol-interview-james-dorris/|access-date=2022-02-16|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

Tilt-wing configurations pivot the frocio wing along with its attached motors like Dufour Aerospace.{{Cite web|title=Business - Webflow HTML website template|url=https://www.dufour.aero/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=www.dufour.aero}}

Lift and cruise systems use one set of motors for vertical flight and another set for cruising, such as Beta Alia,{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-04-08|title=UPS plans to start deliveries via eVTOL in 2024|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/ups-plans-deliveries-via-evtol-2024/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} Airbus,{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-09-22|title=Airbus' return to the eVTOL air taxi is a bit of a head-scratcher|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/airbus-cityairbus-evtol-air-taxi/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} Eve, and eMagic.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-11-17|title=eMagic Aircraft unveils tandem-wing air taxi prototype|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/emagic-evtol-volocopter/|access-date=2021-11-25|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

PteroDynamics uses a folding wing design that allows easy storage land transport of the vehicle. Takeoff occurs with the wings in the folded position, with an in-flight transition to fully extended.{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-07-30|title=Radically different Transwing eVTOL design offers some huge advantages|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/pterodynamics-transwing-evtol/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}}

Hybrid designs employ some fixed and some tilting motors, as shown by Archer Maker,{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2021-06-11|title=Archer unveils full-scale, two-seat, autonomous Maker eVTOL prototype|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/archer-maker-evtol-prototype-unveiling/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} Vertical Aerospace VA-1X,{{Cite web|last=Blain|first=Loz|date=2020-02-05|title=Wisk announces autonomous eVTOL air taxi service trial in New Zealand|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/wisk-autonomous-air-taxi-new-zealand/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} and Wisk Cora.

File:BETA Technologies ALIA 250.jpg

Typical multicopters do not use wings, relying exclusively on the turning blades for lift though they may incorporate them to varying degrees.

Tandem wing designs use front and rear wings, optionally attached to each other at the wing tips.

Box wing or closed wing designs also use two wings, but the wings are connected in such a way that the wingtips are eliminated. The wings may be vertically stacked or arranged front and rear as in tandem designs.

Ducted wing designs open to expose the lift-off fans, and close around them for faster higher-speed cruising.{{Cite web |last=Blain |first=Loz |date=2022-07-25 |title=Horizon presents a 50% scale prototype of its badass Cavorite X5 eVTOL |url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/horizon-cavorite-evtol-prototype/ |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=New Atlas |language=en-US}}

Most current designs are powered by batteries, although some designs use hydrogen fuel cells. Currently, batteries suffer from low specific energy (causing range and thus safety issues). Fuel cells have previously suffered from lower specific power (which could be too low for vertical takeoff/landing), but newer designs claim to have solved this problem with much higher specific power.{{cite web |title=HyPoint and Piasecki reach $6.5M deal to develop hydrogen fuel cells systems for eVTOLs |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/24/hypoint-and-piasecki-reach-6-5m-deal-to-develop-hydrogen-fuel-cells-systems-for-evtols |website=TechCrunch|date=24 August 2021 }}{{cite web |title=Why Are Batteries a Problem for eVTOLs? |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/05/14/why-are-batteries-a-problem-for-evtols/ |website=Aviation Today |language=en |date=14 May 2021}}{{Cite web|title=HyPoint advances eVTOL hydrogen fuel cell system with working prototype|url=https://evtol.com/news/hypoint-advances-evtol-hydrogen-fuel-cell-system-with-working-prototype/|access-date=2021-12-28|website=evtol.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123130745/https://evtol.com/news/hypoint-advances-evtol-hydrogen-fuel-cell-system-with-working-prototype/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2020-05-31|title=HyPoint's "turbo fuel cells" promise huge range and power for eVTOLs|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/hypoint-turbo-air-cooled-fuel-cell-hydrogen-evtol-electric-aircraft/|access-date=2021-12-28|website=New Atlas|language=en-US}} There are also proposals to use batteries for takeoff/landing, and hydrogen fuel cells for cruising.{{Cite web|url=https://faculty.eng.umd.edu/sites/faculty.eng.umd.edu/files/NPD_JAHS2021.pdf|title=Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Battery Hybrid Architecture for Range Extension of Electric VTOL (eVTOL) Aircraft}}

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Many eVTOL concept models are designed for air taxi applications. For instance, Pipistrel, an Uber Elevate partner, is working on the Pipistrel 801, a 5 seats air taxi.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-13|title=Pipistrel Unveils eVTOL Concept {{!}} Flying Magazine|url=https://www.flyingmag.com/pipistrel-unveils-evtol-concept/|access-date=2020-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513082906/https://www.flyingmag.com/pipistrel-unveils-evtol-concept/ |archive-date=2018-05-13 }} Another example is Volocopter, which proposed its air taxi service called VoloCity, based on the Volocopter 2X.{{Cite web|title=Volocopter kicks off pre-sales for its first air taxi flights — with a wait time of 2-3 years|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/16/volocopter-kicks-off-presales-for-its-first-air-taxi-flights-with-a-wait-time-of-2-3-years/|access-date=2020-09-23|website=TechCrunch|date=16 September 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124114245/https://social.techcrunch.com/2020/09/16/volocopter-kicks-off-presales-for-its-first-air-taxi-flights-with-a-wait-time-of-2-3-years/|url-status=live}}

The Google-owned company Wing has been offering an eVTOL UAV delivery service since 2020. Their drones are able to fly up to 100 km and carry up to 1.5 kg.{{Cite web|title=Drone delivery lands in Queensland's south-east|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/wing-drone-delivery-starts-in-logan-south-of-brisbane-bringing-coffee-and-groceries-to-doorsteps/c8ca3b5f-4693-4507-80f7-548eb5dc22b7|access-date=2020-09-23|website=www.9news.com.au|date=27 August 2020 }} Amazon Prime Air and UPS are two others companies using drone delivery.{{Cite news|title=After Alphabet's 'Wing', Amazon's 'Prime Air' gets US approval to deliver items through drones|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/after-alphabets-wing-amazons-prime-air-gets-us-approval-to-deliver-items-through-drones/articleshow/77863361.cms|access-date=2020-09-23}} A German aerospace company called Wingcopter in collaboration with UNICEF has also delivered vaccines in Vanuatu in 2018.{{Cite web|title=Vanuatu awards international drone companies with commercial contracts for vaccine delivery|url=https://www.unicef.org/eap/press-releases/vanuatu-awards-international-drone-companies-commercial-contracts-vaccine-delivery|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.unicef.org|language=en}} In 2020 wingcopter eVTOL drone was used to deliver COVID-19 test kits to Isle of Mull.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-27|title=Wingcopter drone delivering COVID-19 test kits to Isle of Mull|url=https://www.wingsmagazine.com/wingcopter-drone-delivering-covid-19-test-kits-to-isle-of-mull/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Wings Magazine|language=en-US}}File:Wingcopter Vaccine-delivery-Vanuatu Closeup.png delivery flight in Vanuatu. ]]

Heavy-lift unmanned air vehicles included companies such as Sabrewing Aircraft Company Sabrewing Rhaegal, Elroy Elroy Air Chaparral and Pipistrel have unveiled heavy-lift uncrewed cargo aircraft, with the Sabrewing aircraft having a capacity to carry a payload of up to 5,400 pounds in a vertical take off scenario. Volocopter has also developed a cargo eVTOL aircraft, the VoloDrone, that can carry up to 200 kg with a maximum range of 40 km.VoloDrone: our heavy lift solution, Volocopter: [https://www.volocopter.com/solutions/volodrone/ https://www.volocopter.com/solutions/volodrone/]. Accessed March 8, 2023.

eVTOL systems have multiple applications in agriculture, particularly in the areas of crop protection and cover cropping. Guardian Agriculture offers a heavy-lift unmanned aerial platform, the SC1, capable of carrying over 100 kg. In 2023 Guardian Agriculture's SC1 became the first eVTOL system to be approved by the FAA for nationwide operation.{{Cite web|date=2023-04-25|title=Meet the new crop-dusting drones|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/04/25/crop-dusting-drone|access-date=2023-04-23|website=Aviation Today|language=en}}

In 2020, JumpAero announced it was working on a small, one-seater eVTOL aircraft to allow the rapid deployment of emergency services. This type of vehicle is not a replacement for land vehicles or helicopters, but a new tool that, thanks to the electric motor, is faster than the others.{{Cite web|title=Jump Aero|url=https://evtol.news/jump-aero|access-date=2020-09-23|website=evtol.news|language=en}}

In 2020, the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) consortium studied the benefits of eVTOL for direct hospital-to-hospital transportation of patients, organs and drugs.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-01|title=Searching for Early Use Cases for eVTOL Aircraft|url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/08/01/searching-early-use-cases-evtol-aircraft/|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Aviation Today|language=en}}

File:Opener BlackFly N919EB.jpg

eVTOL aircraft have been created to introduce electric flight into recreational or sporting aviation, such as racing series Airspeeder.{{Cite web |last=Doll |first=Scooter |date=2021-11-04 |title=eVTOL racing? Airspeeder is bringing 'flying car' competitions to reality |url=https://electrek.co/2021/11/04/evtol-racing-airspeeder-is-bringing-flying-car-competitions-to-reality/ |access-date=2022-04-12 |website=Electrek |language=en-US}}

The single seat Jetson One octo-rotored eVTOL is noted for its use of software to make it easier to fly.{{Cite web |last=Malayil |first=Jijo |title=Jetson ONE eVTOL dazzles with sharp turns in new test flight video |url=https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/jetson-one-evtol-test-flight |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Interesting Engineering |language=en}}

In 2024, LuftCar signed a Memorandum of understanding with eFrancisco Motor Corporation in the Philippines, to develop, integrate, deploy, brand and market a series of Pinoy flying LuftCar super-jeepney (hydrogen Jeepney van eVTOL built around eFrancisco's vehicle chassis for island hopping).{{cite news |last1= Blain|first1= Laz|title=LuftCar signs deal to develop detachable flying vans in the Philippines|url= https://newatlas.com/aircraft/luftcar-detachable-evtol/|accessdate=February 15, 2024 |publisher= The Atlas|date=February 9, 2024}}{{cite news |last1= Goldstein|first1=Ben |title=LuftCar, Filipino Automaker Partner On Road-Drivable eVTOLs|url= https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advanced-air-mobility/luftcar-filipino-automaker-partner-road-drivable-evtols|accessdate=February 13, 2024 |publisher= Aviation Week Network|date=February 15, 2024}}

In April 2020, the USAF announced $25 million-worth funding of eVTOL projects for development in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Reim |first=Garrett |date=2020-08-24 |title=US Air Force leaders watch first Agility Prime eVTOL demonstration |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-leaders-watch-first-agility-prime-evtol-demonstration/139883.article |access-date=2020-08-27 |website=FlightGlobal |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Garrett-Glaser |first=Brian |date=2020-08-25 |title=U.S. Air Force Leaders Witness Manned eVTOL Demonstration by LIFT Aircraft's HEXA |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/08/25/u-s-air-force-leaders-witness-manned-evtol-demonstration-lift-aircrafts-hexa/ |access-date=2020-08-27 |website=Aviation Today |language=en}} On August 20, 2020, United States Air Force (USAF) held a demonstration flight of an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. It was the first time that a manned eVTOL aircraft took flight under USAF Agility Prime programme.

On 12 December 2021, Embraer and BAE Systems announced plans to embark on a joint study to explore the development of Eve's vehicle for the defence and security market.{{cite web | url= https://embraer.com/global/en/news?slug=1206974-bae-systems-and-embraer-to-explore-potential-defence-variants-for-the-eve-evtol-aircraft | title= BAE Systems and Embraer to explore potential defence variants for the Eve eVTOL aircraft | website= embraer.com | date= 12 December 2021 | accessdate= 27 January 2022}}

Since 2018, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been working on the certification of such aircraft.{{Cite web|title=EASA SC-VTOL|url=https://evtol.news/resources/easa|access-date=2020-09-23|website=evtol.news|language=en}} In July 2019, they published the [https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/SC-VTOL-01.pdf SC-VTOL-01] : Special Condition for VTOL aircraft. This document established the safety and design objectives for VTOL aircraft. It includes a special section for eVTOL.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a study in 2009 on general aviation recommendations for the next 20 years.{{Cite web |url = https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/air/directorates_field/small_airplanes/media/CPS_Part_23.pdf |title= Part 23 - Small Airplane Certification Process Study |date= July 2009 |publisher= US Federal Aviation Agency |access-date= July 2, 2021}} In particular Part 23-Amendment 64 includes eVTOL.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-26|title=EASA Releases Next Piece of Regulatory Guidance for Electric Air Taxis|url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/05/26/easa-releases-next-piece-regulatory-guidance-electric-air-taxis/|access-date=2020-09-23|website=Aviation Today|language=en}}

File:XPeng X2 at Auto Guangzhou 2023 20231126-A.jpg

• Air taxi
• Airpark
• Archer Aviation
• Boeing Passenger Air Vehicle
• TCab Tech
• EHang
• Eve Air Mobility
• Lilium Jet
• NASA Puffin
• Opener BlackFly
• Pipistrel 801 eVTOL
• Vertical Aerospace
• Joby Aviation
• Volocopter
• List of single seat helicopters
• Hexacopter

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|EVTOL aircraft}}

• {{Cite web|date=2021-12-08|title=10 unique eVTOL aircraft that do things very differently|url=https://newatlas.com/aircraft/unique-different-evtols/|access-date=2021-12-12|website=New Atlas|language=en-US|last=Blain|first=Loz}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA1ENhxLqTo PteroDynamics X-P4 Transwing®] - PteroDynamics Inc.
• [https://pivotal.aero/ Pivotal]

{{Types of take-off and landing}}

Category:VTOL aircraft

Category:Urban air mobility

Category:Aircraft by type