South Korean Program Coming Along Nicely, with Demonstrator on Track to Fly This Year

Supernal LLC Motor Group got to strut their stuff with their brand new eVTOL concept in tow at the Farnborough International Airshow, updating the world on how far along their S-A2 development has come.

Supernal said that they believe they're on pace to begin launching commercial flights in 2028, which is good news to those who've been awaiting news on South Korea's entrant in the eVTOL market battle. The S-A2 in its current guise aims for a cruise speed of 120 mph at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet AGL, with a range of about 60 statute miles on average. It will, like many of its competitors, be powered solely by batteries, eschewing the hybrid direction other brands have begun to pursue.

Supernal says it will start testing the prototype next year, and will begin flying a full-scale technology demonstrator this year. The demonstrator's performance will help them "mature and validate vehicle systems, optimize supply chain processes and solidify internal testing protocols." At the moment, Supernal is assembling it, with recent deliveries giving them the composite wing assembly. The firm expects that GKN will deliver the booms by the end of July.

“We are eager to share Supernal’s latest product milestone – our eVTOL product concept – with the aviation industry as we work to launch commercial Advanced Air Mobility operations in 2028,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “With our ‘right product, right market at the right time’ philosophy, S-A2 embodies critical work Supernal is conducting with fleet operators, suppliers, governments and Hyundai Motor Group to ensure AAM becomes a safe, economically viable and widespread mode of transportation in the coming decades.”

“2024 is a pivotal year for Supernal’s eVTOL development, marking the transition from engineering design to the build and execution phases,” said David McBride, chief technology officer, Supernal. “In addition to gaining instrumental learnings from our full-scale technology demonstrator, we will also begin prototype development and continue refining our production vehicle for scaled manufacturing in the coming months.”

FMI: www.supernal.aero