AIR, a developer of midsize eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aerial vehicles, has announced that it has completed advanced uncrewed nighttime flight demonstrations of its latest aircraft. The type is being developed for day/night logistics support and can be used by operators for autonomous nighttime flights. According to a company statement, “This is a critical milestone in solidifying standard operating procedures (SOPs) for night operations and verifying seamless integration with ground crews for loading and unloading the aircraft.
In a remote, non-airport site with minimal infrastructure, the uncrewed aircraft demonstrated its ability to operate in real-world conditions with limited resources. This phase was designed to validate the platform’s ability to operate seamlessly in both daytime and nighttime conditions, with a key focus on ensuring that even ground crews previously unfamiliar with it can seamlessly handle the aircraft with minimal training.
The company added that, “The demonstrations further advance the company’s efforts to bring its cargo-focused eVTOL and the piloted AIR ONE to market for both consumer and commercial logistics use, showcasing its suitability for diverse applications. Following simple SOPs, ground crews successfully loaded 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of cargo into the aircraft and observed its departure via remote operation, demonstrating the eVTOL’s ability to integrate with any ground team.”
“Operations don’t stop once the sun goes down. We recognized early on that ensuring safety and efficiency at night is just as essential as in the daytime,” said Rani Plaut, CEO and co-founder of AIR. “We are proud to have completed this rigorous round of nighttime flight operations, showcasing that AIR’s eVTOL for cargo use is ready for 24/7 use. The aircraft adapts to almost any environment due to its simple ground handling requirements and the ease with which any ground crew can quickly get up to speed. The new SOPs we established lay the foundation for a future of uninterrupted, on-demand cargo mobility.”
AIR’s launch customer, who was present during the night flight demonstration, was impressed with the aircraft’s smooth performance and eagerly anticipates the delivery of additional units later this year. This marks the latest milestone for AIR, which has doubled its team size over the past year and expanded its product line with the introduction of its unmanned variant tailored for enterprise and logistics use, alongside its piloted eVTOL for personal flight.
AIR ONE is described by the firm as an easy-to-operate electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed for individual consumer ownership. The piloted AIR ONE is on track for delivery to general aviation (GA) customers after certification, with over 2,200 preorders for personal use already secured and a growing waitlist.
As the eVTOL industry gains traction with a primary focus on air taxis and other urban air mobility deployments, AIR puts the operation of the aircraft directly in the hands of consumers, unlike other eVTOL developers. AIR’s inaugural vehicle will feature aerospace innovation alongside cutting-edge automotive manufacturing techniques and product maturity to enable mass production of vehicles and accelerated integration of advanced air mobility into society on both a commercial and personal level.
“The future of mobility is in the sky, but to get there, we need to build consumer confidence in eVTOLs as a legitimate mode of everyday transport and develop vehicles on a mass scale to bring that vision to life,” added AIR’s Plaut. “AIR ONE is our hat in the ring, simultaneously showing consumers the first in a line of diversified, playful models for personal flight and demonstrating cutting-edge technology that will enable high-volume production and scalability.”
AIR ONE prioritizes everyday practicality with collapsible wings for easy parking and its ability to take off from or land on any flat surface. The company’s inaugural AIR ONE vehicle is an all-electric two-seater eVTOL that offers a range of 110 miles (176km) on a single charge at speeds up to 155 miles per hour (250 km/h), with a flight duration of one hour.
