Air-mobility startup FlyNow Aviation has conducted the first untethered flight of its stacked dual-rotor electric helicopter, the eCopter, at a test site in Eastern Austria.
Founded in 2019, FlyNow Aviation aims to deliver efficient, eco-friendly, and affordable urban flight solutions. Unlike most emerging air taxis, the eCopter resembles a personal electric helicopter rather than a typical multi-rotor eVTOL.
From Early Prototypes to Full-Scale Testing: eCopter Development Timeline
Prototype flight tests began in 2021, culminating in the first full-scale flight in 2023. Since then, teams have continued testing at Salzburg Airport, keeping the prototypes tethered due to nearby air traffic.
Now operating from a new test site in Eastern Austria, FlyNow has achieved a key milestone with the first untethered flight of its second-generation full-scale eCopter.
“Each milestone moves us closer to making urban air mobility accessible to all,” said Yvonne Winter, FlyNow’s co-founder and COO. “The successful untethered flight of our eCopter is more than a technical feat—it’s proof that our vision is viable. Some dismissed our tethered tests, but this free flight shows FlyNow is ready to elevate urban transport.“
Low-Altitude Testing Paves the Way for Certification and Future Passenger Flights
While passenger-ready flights are still a way off, FlyNow emphasizes that current low-altitude testing is crucial. These trials provide valuable real-world data to help validate system stability and safety, refine flight control and propulsion systems, and push the modular platform closer to full certification.
“Developers are creating the coaxial dual-rotor eCopter in both cargo and single/two-passenger versions. They project it will reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) and offer a flight range of approximately 50 km (over 30 miles) per 30-minute charge. They also estimate its energy consumption at 30 kWh per 100 km.“
FlyNow Aviation
FlyNow is targeting a maximum take-off weight of 570 kg (around 1,250 lb) and reports impressively low noise emissions—just 55 dB(A) at an altitude of 150 meters (490 feet), roughly equivalent to the sound of a dishwasher.
FlyNow Progresses Toward SAIL IV Certification for Commercial Cargo Flights
The company achieved European Special Category Specific Assurance Integrity Level (SAIL) II certification in 2022 and is now working toward SAIL IV, which would authorize the eCopter for commercial cargo operations.
Ongoing testing, validation, and refinement are progressing rapidly, with the goal of launching cargo services by 2027. After the aircraft surpasses one million kilometers of cargo flights, FlyNow plans to begin carrying passengers.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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