European start-up Manta Aircraft is looking to use rapid prototyping techniques from the motorsport industry to fast-track the development of its family of hybrid-electric aircraft that will operate in both short takeoff and landing and vertical takeoff and landing modes.

Eviation Aircraft now says that it is aiming to complete type certification of the nine-passenger Alice by the end of 2023. It has made several design changes to the latest version of its prototype.

United Therapeutics has told China's EHang that it will buy 1,000 of its Autonomous Aerial Vehicles if the company can complete the development of a longer-range version. The group is also backing Beta Technologies with its Alia 250 design and Eco Helicopters' plans to convert the Robinson R-44 helicopter to electrical power.

EHang's trial flight permit will help it move into the European market, by allowing the company to demonstrate the benefits of the 216 autonomous aerial vehicle to regulators, customers, and partners. The test flight conducted for the permit process further demonstrated the utility of the 216 as it occurred during inclement weather.

Volocopter and ADAC Luftrettung are building on a two-year partnership that has already yielded a detailed study of how eVTOL aircraft could be used to get first responders to accident scenes more effectively than ambulances or helicopters.

Following evaluation as part of the Agility Prime program, the U.S. Air Force has granted airworthiness approval for Joby Aviation's four-seat eVTOL aircraft, clearing the way for it to be used to carry cargo and personnel in military operations.

Find out how Ampaire has taken its Electric EEL technology demonstrator to Hawaii to evaluate how hybrid-electric aircraft could be used on scheduled airline routes. It is conducting a month-long series of flight trials with local operator Mokulele Airlines to define what it would take to establish infrastructure to support hybrid propulsion services.

Slovakia-based AeroMobil has rebooted its business plan in 2020 to focus on bringing its model 4.0 flying car to market by 2023, while shelving development of the planned 5.0 vehicle and a possible 6.0 eVTOL aircraft.