Electric-powered multi-copters could supplement traditional helicopters in the emergency medical service role, a study by Germany’s ADAC motoring association has detailed. 

Development of compact, efficient rotary internal-combustion engines able to run on jet fuel has been boosted by U.S. Army contracts to advance the technology for unmanned-aircraft propulsion and rotorcraft auxiliary-power applications.

With the second largest helicopter fleet in the world, Canada has launched a program to develop the technologies, supply chain and regulations for advanced air mobility, including urban and regional cargo and passenger transportation.

Prismatic’s PHASA-35 high-altitude pseudo-satellite has been fitted with a sensor payload and been taken through simulated cold soak testing to prepare it for stratospheric flight. 

The startup describes the flight from Camarillo to Hayward in California as “the longest flight to date for any commercially relevant aircraft employing electric propulsion.”

HAPSMobile has announced the first stratospheric flight of its AeroVironment-developed Sunglider high-altitude pseudo-satellite, the fifth test flight of the solar-powered long-endurance unmanned aircraft.

Projects to demonstrate the viability of electric propulsion have gathered momentum over the last several months.

Green aviation start-up ZeroAvia has completed the first flight of its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Piper M350 test aircraft.