AIR announces next phase in AFWERX program for headway in eVTOL R&D

AIR (Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.), a company developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the consumer market, has announced the next phase in its participation in the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX Agility Prime program to help propel development of the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. Following AIR’s acceptance to the program in 2022, the company has now completed Agility Prime’s third phase and entered into a formal agreement to execute its work together. AIR is currently scouting several locations to build out its U.S. presence and continue flight testing of its inaugural eVTOL aircraft — with a primarily aluminum structure and a composite outer skin — in the U.S.

The partnership will drive AIR’s continuous development and certification efforts on the company’s journey to launch personal air mobility as a viable option for consumers’ everyday commutes. The hours of flight testing performed in the U.S. will also offer AFWERX valuable data to determine AIR One’s viability for use in Air Force logistics missions, per its Area of Interest (AOI) 2 goal seeking eVTOL aircraft capable of carrying one to two people more than 10 miles at a speed of at least 45 miles per hour. Originally created for personal civilian use, AIR One’s distinctive size and platform is said to offer the Air Force a unique reference point within the program.

“AFWERX understands the promise of AIR One, which is capable of ranges and speeds that far exceed AOI-2 requirements,” Rani Plaut, CEO and co-founder of AIR, contends. “We are confident in our ability to deliver the freedom of flight to everyday consumers, especially with the support of such a prestigious program as Agility Prime. We’re looking forward to demonstrating that AAM is truly a team sport.”

Capable of taking off and landing on any flat surface with a 550-pound payload, the all-electric two-seat aircraft offers a practical long range on a single charge at speeds up to 155 miles per hour. According to the company, expanding the eVTOL profile types within the program, AIR One’s simple, cost-effective design includes eight fixed motors, compared to more complex, costly tilt motor designs often used by manufacturers of eVTOLs predominantly for commercial use. AIR One’s profile is relevant for a slew of other applications, including eVTOL pilot training, defense, cargo and agriculture.

“Agility Prime analytics predict lower operations and maintenance costs of eVTOL aircraft through mechanical simplicity,” Lt. Col. John Tekell, Agility Prime branch chief, notes. “The successful transition to forward flight from a VTOL mode with fixed motors highlights the ingenuity of small businesses in achieving mechanically simple designs.”

Since AIR’s emergence from stealth 2 years ago, the AIR One prototype (AIR Zero) has performed several rounds of full-scale, full-weight flight tests, including hover-to-cruise and cruise-to-hover transitions. Having already garnered more than 800 customer pre-orders and a waiting list, AIR plans to deliver the first batch of AIR One vehicles to consumers following aircraft certification. The company has also previously announced international partnerships with air and sea mobility companies, establishing a network to service and support AIR's growing community of users.