Sustainable Aviation Takes Another Step

Lilium NV declared a successful bench test using its electric jet propulsion system, running a pair of test units at its Munich, Germany headquarters. 

The success marks another highlight of the firm's continuing campaign to bring their sustainable "regional air mobility solution" to the eVTOL industry to come. The bench test took their units to max output, assessing the level of performance and reliability Lilium can expect out of the production units once they're in service. The test rig will go on to assess the aerodynamic and electrical performance of the Lilium jet's technology, too, which will have to prove itself against all the same environmental and physical forces endured by traditional combustion engines.

“Completion of the first engine test is a significant achievement for Lilium, demonstrating once again Lilium’s credentials as a world leader in the development of electric jet propulsion technology," said Stephen Vellacott, Lilium CTO. 

"Over the past years, we have invested heavily in the technology and secured extensive IP rights. We now move a step closer to first manned flight and beyond that to the era of commercial electric flight.”

Lilium co-founder Daniel Wiegand took a moment to reflect on the path so far, telling the team "the first test run of the Lilium Jet propulsion unit marks another high point in our journey. It was our shared belief in the radical potential of electric jet technology that brought us together in 2015 and continues to drive Lilium on the way to transforming regional aviation. This latest milestone brings us closer to first manned flight and our goal of commercial entry into service.”

FMI: www.lilium.com