Eve Air Mobility has completed testing of its propeller rig and vertical lift motors and completed its urban air traffic management prototype, the company announced on Friday.
The company, which went public a year ago in a SPAC acquisition and has backing from Embraer, aims to develop eVTOL aircraft along with a global service and support network and air traffic management.
Eve completed wind tunnel testing on its eVTOL earlier this month.
The propeller tests in Brazil measured aerodynamic performance and sound properties for modeling and development.
In a statement announcing the testing, the company said the number of blades and their characteristics in terms of torsion and shape help it address vibration, sound profile and energy needs.
Engineers tested multiple models to improve efficiency, reduce sound footprint and optimize costs.
Eve also recently began testing its vertical lift rotors aboard a new custom truck-mounted platform.
“We are very pleased with our program development activities to date and making very good progress as we move toward the selection of primary suppliers and finalize the definition of our aircraft systems architecture,” said Alice Altissimo, vice president of program management and operation.
The wind tunnel test results along with the propeller and rig results will help improve Eve’s flight simulator and fly-by-wire system.
The company plans to have its main equipment suppliers ironed out by the middle of the year with assembly of an initial full-scape prototype later this year.
Eve is eyeing next year for flight testing with a goal for certification and entry into service in 2026.
Urban Air Traffic Management Prototype completed
To manage the fleet of Eve eVTOL aircraft, the company also announced on Friday the completion of an Urban Air Traffic Management prototype.
It focuses on concepts and services essential to supporting the introduction and scalability of operations, the company said.
The was initially tested last fall during Eve’s Chicago Simulation Experience. The simulation used helicopters as a substitute for eVTOLs .
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“Eve recognizes that these developments need to be reviewed for safety and unification with the current airspace ecosystem to avoid potential logistical challenges,” co-CEO Andre Stein said. “By offering comprehensive solutions, our Urban ATM technology will provide critical traffic management services which will be essential to address these concerns. Eve’s Urban ATM will play a key role in enabling the global UAM market to scale and has a customer-centric design to address future operations’ pain points.”
Eve is engaging with Atech, Embraer’s Air Traffic Control technology and system integrator company, to support the development of the Urban ATM software solution.