AutoFlight Prosperity I enters the eVTOL market

Future mobility design house, Frank Stephenson Design (Wycombe, U.K.), and global electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company AutoFlight (Augsburg, Germany) have revealed the full interior design for the eVTOL, Prosperity I, at this week’s Paris Air Show. In February 2023, the AutoFlight aircraft is reported to have claimed a world record for longest flight by an eVTOL aircraft on a single electric charge — hitting 155 miles (250 kilometers).

For Prosperity I’s design, Frank Stephenson Design’s team covered the full spectrum, including the capsule’s exteriors, interiors, ground handling and packaging. Following a comprehensive, creative approach, Frank Stephenson Design strove to strike the perfect balance between form and function, delivering sleek, angle-free aesthetics that evoke a sense of safety, comfort and innovation.

“By blending art with science, while using the latest eco-friendly technology to shape the future of design mobility, our studio aspires to create great products and vehicles that will shape the future of mobility,” Frank Stephenson, founder of Frank Stephenson Design, says. “During the AutoFlight project, weight and safety were our utmost priorities; these dictate all of the work we do in this industry and weight must be kept to a minimum to maximize efficiency. We have multiple failure modes to ensure that the vehicle adheres to the highest standards of safety.”

The team at Frank Stephenson Design includes world-renowned designers and pioneering visionaries across diverse industries including mobility, aerospace, watches, infant seats and soon-to-be space.The interior design and exterior design of the full-scale eVTOL capsule are on display at the 2023 Paris Air Show. 

“When it comes to the capsule’s aesthetics, the wings and propeller layout dictate the overall appearance of the aircraft and the interior concept is unique — it’s a new type of space, and a very interesting package to execute,” Stephenson continues. “Cross-sectional areas should be minimized to reduce drag [the force that resists the movement of an aircraft through the air] and at the same time, the cabin must be comfortable and spacious enough for the passengers.”

Frank Stephenson Design acts as an in-house or satellite design studio providing a full range of design services. With a reliable design process, the studio strives for excellence on all of its projects which always starts at the first stage of pen to paper. In a digital world, this form of work is increasingly rare, but important to Stephenson himself and the studio team to ensure all of their design work retains that human touch.

Read more about UAM developments here.