17 October 2024
The British designed and built Skyfly Axe eVTOL has started manned flight tests after being given the go-ahead by the CAA.
It comes after just over four months in build and follows two months of ground running. Skyfly CEO Michael Thompson is the first test pilot.
“The e-conditions approval and the licensing authorisation came as we assembled the prototype,” said Phil Hall, Skyfly Certification and Engineering.
“We recognise and appreciate that the CAA team have been of great help to us, in particular enabling us to keeping to our development programme, and are all looking forward to sharing more flight test footage.”
Skyfly Axe can land and take-off on a conventional runway as well as vertically
The Axe can perform a vertical take-off and landing as well as conventional ‘fixed wing’ take-off and landings on a runway thanks to its control surfaces and mechanical control system. Approval has been granted for both these flight envelopes.
As part of the approval process, it was necessary to establish the piloting requirement needed to fly the Axe. The CAA licensing department inspected the prototype and control systems, and was satisfied that as a predominantly wing-borne aircraft, a PPL-A holder will be able to act as pilot in command of the Axe after differences training.
Flight tests begin for the Skyfly Axe
Michael Thompson said after his flights, “After years of development, it was amazing to finally get in the aircraft and fly it.
“A manned eVTOL aircraft that can transition to forward flight is not covered by current licensing regulations. The CAA team have been very proactive in working to find a way forward and issue an exemption permitting licensed test flights.
“Once the licensing issue was resolved, approval, under e-conditions (experimental conditions), was quickly given.”
Skyfly will be carrying out the flight tests at a remote site in the UK Midlands.
