For UK-based AAM startup Skyfly Technologies, the closing days of November have been marked by a series of major announcements that are indicative of the accelerating developmental maturation of the company’s flagship Axe eVTOL design.
On November 15th, Skyfly announced that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will tap the Axe to participate in its Uncrewed Air Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) requirement project.
Not dissimilar to the United States Air Force’s Agility Prime framework, the UK’s UASHLC is intended to facilitate the study of how eVTOL capabilities can be leveraged in a military context and spur and refine the development of military-oriented unmanned eVTOL solutions. Under the umbrella of the GPB95.0 million UASHLC initiative, the UK MoD will support Skyfly’s development of the eHarrier concept – a maritime heavy lift solution derived from the basis of the company’s existing Axe prototype. Five days after the UK MoD release, Skyfly announced that the baseline Axe model had successfully concluded the first phase of manned hover testing. The aircraft is now poised to transition towards a new phase of trials oriented around forward flight testing and conventional takes off and landings.
The two seater carbon fiber Axe personal eVTOL design achieves flight via four propellers, each powered by two electric engines, on the end of two canard wings. SkyFly reports that the aircraft features a cruising speed of 100mph and a prospective payload of 172kg. The range of the aircraft will extend from 100 to 300 depending on whether the platform is configured for hybrid or fully electric propulsion. The prospective price of the aircraft is set at USD180,000.
