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VoltAero has successfully flown its hybrid-electric Cassio testbed using 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provided by TotalEnergies. According to VoltAero, this was the first time any aircraft with a hybrid-electric powertrain has flown on pure SAF, a biofuel that is typically blended with traditional jet fuel. 

Brazilian autonomous eVTOL aircraft developer Moya Aero has been selected to join the Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator program for seed-stage start-ups. Plus, EHang invests in solid-state battery specialist Shenzhen Inx; Safran and Cuberg team to develop energy storage systems for electric aircraft; Ryse releases video showing amphibious operations with its Recon ultralight eVTOL vehicle; and Estonia and Anra Technologies open an uncrewed air traffic management test center.

Lilium says it is on track to have the first of seven prototype eVTOL aircraft assembled and ready for flight testing by the end of 2024, with Aciturri preparing to deliver the first of the Lilium Jet's composite fuselages in the fourth quarter of this year. The aircraft will complete final assembly at Lilium's facility at Wessling, near Munich, as it works towards type certification by the end of 2025.

The Seoul-based Solyu leasing group wants to be part of South Korea's drive to embrace advanced air mobility services and has provisionally agreed to buy up to 50 of SkyDrive's three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. The agreement builds on its decision earlier this month to purchase 25 of Eviation's Alice electric airplane.

Joby Aviation has opted to mass-produce its electric air taxi in Dayton, Ohio—home of the Wright Brothers. The California-based eVTOL aircraft developer announced Monday that it will build its first scaled production facility at Dayton International Airport, where it intends to manufacture hundreds of aircraft per year together with its partner Toyota. 

Two years ahead of its target for bringing hydrogen-powered aircraft to market in 2025, Universal Hydrogen has filed its application for an FAA supplemental type certificate and has been granted the G-1 issue paper. The company will now be stepping up ground and flight testing that recently got underway to generate the data needed for the approval process.

Beta Technologies, a Vermont-based company developing electric aircraft along with a network of charging stations, is expanding its partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense to install an aircraft charger at Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida. Later this year, Beta will send its Alia aircraft to Eglin, where the Air Force will use it for “on-base experimentation” as part of its ongoing efforts to explore defense applications for electric aircraft such as Beta’s Alia.

Supernal COO Mike Whitaker could be the next FAA administrator. Plus, UK Research and Innovation offers more funding for advanced air mobility; Dufour's Aero 2 cargo drone will use Volz actuators; Lilium Jet to feature Saint-Gobain cabin windows and flight deck windscreen; Heart's ES-30 airline will use Honeywell fly-by-wire controls; Volatus to help Leo Flight with charging stations; and BAE Systems backs Airlander airships.

H2Fly is working to develop a liquid hydrogen propulsion system that could support flights as long as 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). The development work has received financial support from the European Union's Project Heaven and last week the company conducted a public demonstration flight at Maribor Airport in Slovenia.