On February 10th, the Japanese eVTOL firm SkyDrive announced that the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) issued G-1 Certification Basis for the company’s flagship air taxi platform, opening the door for SkyDrive to begin accelerating its pursuit of final certification and platform commercialization. SkyDrive also announced that it will conduct public demonstration flights of its prototype during Expo 2025, the universal exhibition due to open its gates to the public in the city of Osaka this upcoming April.
SkyDrive’s piloted air taxi platform is designed to carry two passengers and features a maximum takeoff weight of 1,400 kilograms (3,100 lbs). The composite aircraft attains flight via twelve vertical lift rotors, powered by an electric battery suite and a corresponding quantity of individual motors. The aircraft features a maximum cruise speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) and range of 15-40 kilometers (9-25 mi). SkyDrive is collaborating with Japanese automaker Suzuki to establish production facilities for the platform.
