Under its Afwerx Agility Prime programs, the U.S. Air Force is assessing how it could deploy eVTOL aircraft, which offer very different capabilities to its existing fleet. Archer has received a new contract to extend its partnership with the service, resulting in the delivery of up to six of its Midnight vehicles.

ZeroAvia has reached an agreement to provide its 600-kilowatt ZA600 hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems for a fleet of Twin Otter aircraft to be operated by Surcar Airlines. The new Spanish airline intends to offer sightseeing flights between the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of North Africa, starting with Twin Otters running on jet-A fuel before the aircraft can be converted to hydrogen after ZeroAvia's equipment is certified in 2025.

As it edges closer to a merger with UK airframer Britten-Norman, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions has opened the refurbished research and development center where it will convert the Islander aircraft to operate on hydrogen power. Completion of the deal will release more capital and the company has also launched a Series B funding round.

After nearly three decades of developing avionics systems and aircraft displays for general aviation airplanes, Avidyne is branching out into the advanced air mobility industry with an entirely new approach to avionics systems: an open avionics platform called Quantum. However, high degrees of flight deck customization could result in complications when it comes to flight training requirements for pilots.

Some emerging advanced air mobility companies continue to face significant financial headwinds as witnessed by the decidedly cool market reaction to Surf Air Mobility’s direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange late on July 27. Ahead of the initial public offering, Surf Air merged with Southern Airways Express, which operates a fleet of turbine-powered Cessna Caravans mainly under FAA Essential Air Service contracts. Working with partners including MagniX and AeroTec, the company intends to convert existing aircraft to use electric propulsion systems.

Hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft developer Plana will house operations at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Springfield, Ohio, as part of the company’s effort to accelerate its technology research and development.

As eVTOL aircraft developers get closer to bringing their vehicles into series production, orders for equipment from key suppliers are increasing. Electric power distribution specialist Astronics confirmed this trend by reporting it has a $20 million order backlog from 10 manufacturers in the new advanced air mobility sector.

Eve Air Mobility has turned to majority shareholder Embraer to find a new CEO to steer its eVTOL aircraft to service entry. Plus, new aircraft from VoltAero and Wisk debut at the EAA AirVenture show; Aura Aero's Integral S training aircraft makes its first flight; PAL-V prepares to open a flying-car showroom in Germany; VerdeGo Aero teams with SMA for hybrid-electric powertrain; and Australian eVTOL developer AMSL Aero names a new chairman.

AutoFlight has claimed a world-first by flying three examples of its Prosperity I eVTOL aircraft in close formation. The China-based group released a video via showing the three prototypes operating at altitudes between 80 and 120 meters (almost 400 feet), with the first flying 28 kilometers (18 miles) in 12 minutes, the second covering 91 kilometers in 35 minutes, and the most recent iteration of the design logging 120 kilometers in 42 minutes. In February, the company claimed a world record for the longest eVTOL flight to date, when one of its aircraft flew 250.3 kilometers on a single charge at its test site in Germany.