South Korean startup MintAir plans to build an advanced air mobility (AAM) service using electric rotorcraft and has agreed to order up to 40 aircraft from Jaunt Air Mobility, in addition to a previous commitment for 100 aircraft from Skyworks Aeronautics.
A third agreement with an electric rotorcraft developer is pending.
Rather than using the new class of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle envisioned as the basis for most urban air taxi operations, MintAir wants to build its business around rotorcraft that combine energy- and cost-saving electric propulsion with a more conventional single main rotor.
The startup believes electric rotorcraft offer better safety through having autorotation capability for safe landing in the event of power failure and a clearer path to certification via existing Part 27 or 29 regulations for helicopters.
Jaunt is developing the Journey, a slowed-rotor compound electric helicopter. The aircraft has an electric-driven main rotor for vertical flight. In cruise, the rotor is slowed to reduce drag and lift is offloaded to a wing equipped with four electric propellers for propulsion.
In June 2021, Skyworks announced an order from MintAir for its eGyro, an electric autogyro. The main rotor is spun up for vertical flight but is unpowered and autorotates in forward flight, when propulsion is provided by a pusher propeller.
“We are planning to announce a third partnership with another electric rotorcraft company in a few weeks,” said JP Park, co-founder and chief strategy officer of MintAir and its affiliate Mobius.energy, a U.S. startup developing battery modules for electric propulsion.
MintAir will serve as Jaunt’s exclusive partner in South Korea and companies will work to launch commercial passenger operations in several markets. “Our mission is to develop the safest advanced air mobility service in both urban and rural environments based on sound [environmental, social and governance] management,” CEO Eugene Choi said in a statement.
Now part of the Airo Group, Jaunt is developing the Journey at an engineering center in Montreal and aiming for certification in 2026 under Part 29 rules for transport category helicopters. Airo plans an initial public offering this year to raise funding to develop and certify the Journey.
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