Airbus reveals its full electric City Airbus NextGen prototype eVTOL.

Airbus has officially unveiled its fully electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype to the public, with plans for its initial flight later this year. This CityAirbus is a two-tonne airframe featuring a wing span of around 12 meters. It is engineered to achieve a flight range of 80 km and a cruising speed of 120 km/h. This design positions it as an ideal choice for a range of missions within large urban areas, including Medical services, ecotourism, and passenger transport.

The reveal event was aligned with the inauguration of Airbus' new CityAirbus testing facility in Donauwörth, which was aimed at conducting tests on electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). This facility represents a key component of Airbus' sustained and strategic commitment to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and kicked off operations in December 2023 with the activation of the CityAirbus NextGen. The facility will now proceed with the comprehensive testing phase needed before the prototype's inaugural flight, which is scheduled for later this year.

These evaluations will examine the electric motors, featuring eight rotors, alongside other critical systems like flight controls and avionics. "The introduction of CityAirbus NextGen marks a significant and tangible stride towards realizing advanced air mobility and the prospects of our products and markets. Our global community, team, and partners have been instrumental in turning this vision into reality," stated Balkiz Sarihan, Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus.

Furthermore, Airbus is enhancing its worldwide network and collaborative partnerships to cultivate a distinctive ecosystem conducive to the flourishing and sustainability of the AAM market. A recent collaboration with LCI, a prominent aviation firm, has been established, focusing on developing partnership frameworks and business strategies across three primary AAM domains: strategic planning, market-entry, and funding.