Full-Scale Prototype Passes Major Milestone Four Years into the Flight Test Campaign

Austrian air taxi startup FlyNow Aviation is celebrating the first untethered test flights of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, the eCopter. The helicopter-like prototype first took to the skies with tethered flights in 2023 and is ambitiously targeting commercial rollout in 2027.

The untethered tests, held at the company’s eastern Austria facility, began in early June. The flight campaign itself began in 2021 with modular tests, followed by full-scale prototype evaluations and tethered flights near Salzburg in 2023. The new test site aims to give the company greater freedom to refine flight controls, evaluate energy performance, and validate safety systems under untethered conditions.

FlyNow emphasizes that while the eCopter qualifies as an eVTOL on paper, its form and function are closer to a compact helicopter. The design centers on what the company calls “intelligent simplicity,” using only four main subsystems: rotors, cabin, batteries, and electric motors. This keeps weight low, minimizes the potential for component failures, and reduces production costs compared to more complex setups.

The aircraft’s performance figures are modest, but geared well for short-range missions. The prototype has a maximum takeoff weight of 570 kilograms, can carry up to 200 kilograms of payload, and offers flight times of around 30 minutes. Cruise speed is expected to reach 130 kilometers per hour, with an operational range of roughly 50 kilometers. FlyNow also says the eCopter’s low noise levels make it suited for dense urban settings, kept under 55 decibels at 150 meters.

The modular family of aircraft under development includes single- and two-seat passenger versions, plus a cargo variant sized for a standard European pallet. The company is also working on specialized models for emergency response and firefighting needs. FlyNow expects cargo operations to be the first to enter service, with passenger flights to follow once the painstaking regulatory approvals are completed.

If the company meets its goal of launching operations by 2027, the eCopter could offer one of the first practical examples of low-cost, zero-emission air taxis in Europe.

FMI: www.flynow-aviation.com