Aerospace & Defense Technology - May 2024 - 32

Application Briefs
Airbus to Fly Prototype eVTOL This Year
Airbus
Toulouse, France
+33 6 34 78 14 08
www.airbus.com
T
he CityAirbus NextGen prototype electric vertical takeoff
and landing (eVTOL) aircraft made its public debut
during an unveiling ceremony in Donauwörth, Germany on
March 7, 2024.
The unveiling was the first time Airbus has presented a flight
ready, fully assembled version of its all-electric prototype aircraft,
which has been under development for several years.
According to the Toulouse, France-based aircraft maker, the
two-tonne class CityAirbus NextGen has a wing span of approximately
12 meters, and is being developed to fly with an 80 km
range and a cruise speed of 120 km/h.
The unveiling coincided with the opening of the new CityAirbus
test center in Donauwörth, which will be dedicated to testing
systems for eVTOLs. The center, which is part of Airbus' ongoing
and long-term investment in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM),
began its operations with the CityAirbus NextGen's power-on in
December 2023 and it will be now used for the remaining tests
required before the prototype's maiden flight later in the year.
These tests cover the electric motors with their eight rotors as well
as the aircraft's other systems such as flight controls and avionics.
At the same time, Airbus is expanding its global network and
partnerships to create a unique ecosystem for the future of the
AAM market. Airbus recently signed a partnership agreement
with LCI, a leading aviation company, to focus on the development
of partnership scenarios and business models in three
core AAM areas: strategy, commercialization and financing.
Airbus first launched its vision for the CityAirbus NextGen
eVTOL in September 2021, several years after the company
developed its Vahana eVTOL demonstrator aircraft. CityAirbus
NextGen has a V-shaped tail and is powered by a distributed
Flight Testing Microvanes and Riblets
Defense Innovation Unit
Washington D.C.
info@DIU.mil
www.DIU.mil
T
32
he Department of Defense (DoD) relies on airborne logistics
to support global military operations, and airlift and air-toair
refueling are both critical operations in ensuring mission
success. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) coordinates and executes the
majority of these airlift logistics for joint operations, but primarily
with older, legacy aircraft. Reducing the fuel required to
achieve these operations is critical to increasing operational
capability, reducing cost, and reducing supply chain risks.
The Air Force Operational Energy Office (SAF/IE), the Air
Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Special Operations
mobilityengineeringtech.com
Aerospace & Defense Technology, May 2024
propulsion system that has eight electrical-powered propellers
and fixed wings. The four-seater eVTOL is designed to be piloted
in its initial configuration, and is also equipped with an
optional automated flight mode.
Since launching the concept three years ago, Airbus has
signed partnerships with several major industry players as suppliers
for various CityAirbus NextGen components. In 2022 for
example, Spirit Aerosystems signed a deal to supply the wings
for CityAirbus NextGen, while California-based MagicALL
became the aircraft's electric motor supplier. In June 2023, Airbus
confirmed STMicroelectronics as its supplier of power electronics
for the aircraft.
" Rolling out CityAirbus NextGen for the very first time is an
important and very real step that we are taking towards
advanced air mobility and our future product and market.
Thank you to our community, team and partners all over the
world for helping us make this a reality, " said Balkiz Sarihan,
Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus.
www.airbus.com
http://www.airbus.com http://www.airbus.com http://www.DIU.mil http://mobilityengineeringtech.com
Aerospace & Defense Technology - May 2024

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