Photo: Skyfly
The UK is about to witness its first-ever airfield-to-airfield flight performed by an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) with recharging. The aircraft that will be at the forefront of this trailblazing endeavor is the Axe by Skyfly, a two-seat electric aircraft designed for private use.
There are very few private eVTOL designs out there, and they seem to have won the hearts of aviation enthusiasts all over the world despite the limited range. These one or two-seat flying machines intended for private use don't typically go beyond 20 miles (32 km). In this sense, Skyfly disrupted the industry with a private eVTOL concept that promises a range of at least 100 miles (161 km) powered exclusively by batteries and up to an impressive 300 miles (482 km) in a hybrid configuration.
Introduced as an innovative, green alternative to personal air mobility, the Axe one-seat eVTOL is also showing up as one of the top options for circuit training. It can fly like a helicopter or a fixed-wing aircraft, as well as conduct glide landings with all engines shut down, something that apparently no other eVTOL can do. Add to that minimal maintenance requirements and reduced operating costs, and you have a versatile and affordable training platform. According to Skyfly, in the aircraft training market, Axe is in a class of its own.
The UK-based eVTOL maker has found the ideal partner for a breakthrough. AeroVolt is one of the UK’s pioneers in electric aircraft charging infrastructure. It's in the process of installing 60 charging units at airfields across the country, which began last summer. The initial units come at 22 kW, and the ones following this year will go up to 44 kW. And it doesn't stop there. AeroVolt will eventually install 120 kW charging units, some of which will be compatible with multiple aircraft and EVs at once.
It takes three and a half hours to fully recharge the Axe private eVTOL using an AeroVolt unit. The two will demonstrate this soon as part of a trailblazing real-world demonstration, during which Skyfly's aircraft will perform the first eVTOL airfield-to-airfield flight in the UK.
AeroVolt also intends to add the Axe two-seater to its fleet. It currently offers a different electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, to its customers. Members of the company's subscription service can rent this aircraft and book charging sessions, and they'll soon be able to do the same with the innovative Axe eVTOL.
The Axe by Skyfly boasts a four-wing configuration with fixed 45-degree angle rotors. This optimized aerodynamic lift extends its range and takes gliding capabilities to the next level. The aircraft is already available for pre-orders, with pricing starting at $180,000, and first deliveries are scheduled for the end of this year.
Introduced as an innovative, green alternative to personal air mobility, the Axe one-seat eVTOL is also showing up as one of the top options for circuit training. It can fly like a helicopter or a fixed-wing aircraft, as well as conduct glide landings with all engines shut down, something that apparently no other eVTOL can do. Add to that minimal maintenance requirements and reduced operating costs, and you have a versatile and affordable training platform. According to Skyfly, in the aircraft training market, Axe is in a class of its own.
The UK-based eVTOL maker has found the ideal partner for a breakthrough. AeroVolt is one of the UK’s pioneers in electric aircraft charging infrastructure. It's in the process of installing 60 charging units at airfields across the country, which began last summer. The initial units come at 22 kW, and the ones following this year will go up to 44 kW. And it doesn't stop there. AeroVolt will eventually install 120 kW charging units, some of which will be compatible with multiple aircraft and EVs at once.
It takes three and a half hours to fully recharge the Axe private eVTOL using an AeroVolt unit. The two will demonstrate this soon as part of a trailblazing real-world demonstration, during which Skyfly's aircraft will perform the first eVTOL airfield-to-airfield flight in the UK.
AeroVolt also intends to add the Axe two-seater to its fleet. It currently offers a different electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, to its customers. Members of the company's subscription service can rent this aircraft and book charging sessions, and they'll soon be able to do the same with the innovative Axe eVTOL.
The Axe by Skyfly boasts a four-wing configuration with fixed 45-degree angle rotors. This optimized aerodynamic lift extends its range and takes gliding capabilities to the next level. The aircraft is already available for pre-orders, with pricing starting at $180,000, and first deliveries are scheduled for the end of this year.
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