Atea
LE BOURGET—French advanced air mobility (AAM) startup Ascendance Flight Technologies has announced three new suppliers for its hybrid electric- vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft, along with a series of conditional orders for up to 260 of the eVTOLs.
The new suppliers include a joint effort from Solvay and Airborne that will see the two companies collaborate to develop the prototype Atea’s composite aerostructure and prepare required materials.
Solvay, which is developing the composite structure of Vertical Aerospace’s VX4, brings with it significant expertise related to composite materials based on resins and polymers. Airborne, which is working on the airframe for Montreal-based Limosa’s eVTOL, specializes in the design and production of composite structures, tooling and industrialization solutions.
The announcement was made at the Paris Air Show here.
Ascendance also announced an agreement with startup Evolito for the prototype aircraft’s battery.
The company also said it had agreed to a strategic partnership with a “major aeronautic group,” although it did not disclose names.
The three new supplier partnerships will support the launch of the production phase of Ascendance’s full-scale prototype, which is expected to fly in 2024.
In addition to the supplier announcements, Ascendance also unveiled new conditional orders from sustainable aviation lessor Green Aerolease and an undisclosed operator for up to 260 aircraft, growing the company’s total backlog to 505 orders.
The Atea is planned to enter service beginning in 2027. The aircraft is being designed to carry a pilot and three passengers up to 450 km (280 mi.) at a cruising speed of 200 km/hr.
