BlackBird eVTOL Successfully Completes First Unmanned Test

Australia-based company CycloTech recently got its BlackBird electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) demonstrator airborne for the first time, kicking off the aircraft’s unmanned test campaign. This paves the way for the developer’s full-scale project: the CruiseUp.

CycloTech began developing the BlackBird demonstrator just last year, officially launching the program in April 2024. The engineering teams hit the ground running and were able to create a complete airframe in 6 months, the E-drive in 4.5 months, battery modules and thermal management systems in 5 months, and all core systems in 6 months. They then jumped into extensive ground confirmation tests at a local general aviation airport.

The company spent a total of 11 months bringing its vision to reality, and its hard work paid off when the BlackBird left the ground for the first time on March 27, 2025. It successfully completed an unmanned, remotely controlled hover before returning to the ground intact.

“The BlackBird is more than a demonstrator—it’s a flying testbed for the future of aviation,” explained Tahsin Kart, Chief Technology Officer at CycloTech. “To see it take flight in such a short time is a testament to our team’s innovation and spirit.”

The design aims to prove the company’s CycloRotor technology. Inspired by boat propellers, these barrel-shaped rotors can change angle as they spin to move the aircraft in any direction without fully turning it. BlackBird uses six CycloRotors, with four mounted horizontally and two vertically for VTOL capabilities.

The BlackBird serves as a demonstrator for CycloTech’s future two-seat personal flying car, dubbed CruiseUp. This will use the same six-rotor configuration to enable sideways and backwards flight, VTOL, and mid-air braking without tilting or banking. It is slated to hit the market as early as 2035.

"This is not the finish line, it's the launchpad,” Kart continued. “We are now accelerating our flight test program and continuing to refine our CycloRotor technology. We drive progress and redefine what’s possible in vertical flight.”

FMI: www.cyclotech.at