AMSL Aero has completed the first free flight of Vertiia, a passenger-capable, emission-free, long range eVTOL.
The landmark flight is said to be the first by an Australian-designed and built eVTOL. Since the first untethered flight, which took place earlier this month, Vertiia has taken off, flown and landed successfully more than 50 times.
The historic test flight was performed on battery power by remote control in the Central West region of New South Wales in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations. AMSL Aero is expected to begin hydrogen-fuelled flight testing of Vertiia in 2025 having already completed the first tethered battery-powered hover in 2023.
AMSL Aero Co-Founder, Chief Engineer and Vertiia inventor Andrew Moore, said; “Watching Vertiia take to the sky in free flight was a breathtaking experience for our incredible team of engineers and me. This landmark is proof that the design we pioneered seven years ago works, and it moves us closer to our goal of improving the lives of remote, rural and regional communities in Australia and around the world with an aircraft that conquers the tyranny of distance with zero emissions.”
AMSL Aero Chief Executive, Max York, added; “Today marks a huge milestone on AMSL Aero’s journey and places the company on a very short list of global leaders in advanced eVTOL development. Very few aircraft companies build a full-scale aircraft and get it safely off the ground. What AMSL Aero has achieved with a small focused team is incredible and shows what can be done when you have a clear vision and amazing talent.”
According to AMSL Aero, Vertiia is the most complex civil aircraft ever developed in Australia. It has been designed to fly up to 1,000km on hydrogen at a cruising speed of 300km/hour with zero carbon emissions, carrying up to four passengers and a pilot.
AMSL Aero’s Vertiia customers are planning commercial flights following certification and regulatory approval planned in 2027.
