Archer announced the selection of Garmin's 3000 integrated flight deck on the eve of the unveiling event of its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL aircraft. The company said it chose the system because it has been certified on numerous existing aircraft and is familiar to many professional pilots.

Ground infrastructure company Skyports and eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter have opened a testbed facility at Pontoise-Cormeilles Aerodrome near Paris. The facility is being used as part of an extended planning exercise to prepare for the launch of urban air mobility services during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and has the support of local officials and airports operator Groupe ADP.

While most vehicle manufacturers working in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector are focused on building eVTOL air taxis and other electric or hybrid aircraft, a few companies are pressing ahead with plans for literal flying cars—vehicles that can both fly in the air and be driven on roads.

Evia Aero is helping Cranfield Aerospace Solutions develop its plans to convert existing aircraft, like the venerable Britten-Norman Islander, to hydrogen propulsion, as well as potentially building a new 19-seat model. Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is also working with Dronamics on a possible hydrogen-powered version of its remotely piloted, long-range Black Swan aircraft.

When Mercedes-Benz was buying automotive electric motor pioneer YASA, the German car giant permitted the intellectual property for its axial-flux technology to be offered in the aerospace sector by a spin-off called Evolito, That spin-off is now looking to support both new eVTOL vehicles and electric versions of fixed-wing aircraft. The company's founders earned their wings with Rolls-Royce's record-breaking Spirit of Innovation flights.

French aerospace giants Safran and Daher are backing a group that also includes Elixir Aircraft, engine maker Turbotech, and hydrogen specialist Air Liquide in a government-funded program called BeautHyFuel. The partners are preparing to use the new TP-90 turbine engine to power its the two-seat Elixir light aircraft to develop more eco-friendly propulsion systems that could eventually use hydrogen for fuel.

Washington state-based electric aircraft developer Eviation has received an order for 20 Alice all-electric, nine-seat commuter airplanes from Australian airline and charter operator Northern Territory Air Services (NTAS), the manufacturer announced Thursday. Eviation’s order book for its electric airplane is now worth more than $2 billion.

Advanced superconductors are the secret sauce in Mako Aerospace’s ambitions to make short-haul electric airliners feasible with a new ducted-fan propulsion system. This week, the Scottish start-up unveiled its Forerunner concept during a virtual "demonstration day" event. In his video presentation, founder and CEO Kieran Duncan provided a helpful overview of the technical challenges and opportunities facing those trying to achieve a quantum improvement in both the cost of operations for commercial aircraft, and the cost to the planet of flights.

The Mako presentation features the new high-temperature, 650-amp superconductor materials it is using for the Forerunner in place of heavier and less efficient cables. Duncan explains how his team intends to make this work through innovations in cooling, magnetic shielding, and insulation of the core components. Mako has started running its Forerunner prototype on a ground test bed, starting on November 11 at 10 percent of its anticipated peak power of 1,600 kilowatts. Over the next month, it will gradually increase this to 100 percent as it prepares to fly the powertrain on an undisclosed aircraft in 2023.

Vertical Aerospace expects to complete EASA type certification for its four-passenger VX4 eVTOL aircraft by 2024. Launch customers, including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, helicopter operator Bristow, and customers of leasing group Avolon, are expected to start commercial services from the mid 2020s.