SkyDrive Inc., an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, has completed a demonstration flight of the SKYDRIVE (SkyDrive Model SD-05) at the Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
SkyDrive will continue to showcase the capabilities of the SKYDRIVE with a series of further demonstration flights through to August 24th.
The flight reached a height of 4 meters and lasted for 3 minutes. The aircraft is uncrewed, operated by remote control, and stabilized using automatic control technology.
Back in February 2023, SkyDrive was included in a select group of the advanced air mobility companies chosen to demonstrate their smart mobility technology at the Expo under the event’s theme of showcasing the technology that will shape the future of society. As a result of this opportunity, the successful demonstration of the company’s aircraft at the Expo became one of SkyDrive’s key development milestones.
Following extensive development activity and an accident-free flight test campaign that confirmed the aircraft’s safety, SkyDrive is showing its aircraft to the public as per the demonstration flight schedule.
SkyDrive Demonstration Flight Schedule
SkyDrive will fly at the EXPO Vertiport every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between Friday August 1st and Sunday August 24th. No flights will be scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said, “The Expo 2025 event is a wonderful opportunity to experience tomorrow’s technology and we are proud to have the chance to show you all a taste of the future through our eVTOL. The successful completion of today’s flight required SkyDrive’s employees and partners to work closely together and overcome various challenges. We are all thrilled to see the SKYDRIVE flying over Osaka Bay, and extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has provided us with encouragement and support. As CEO, I would also like to extend my personal thanks to the SkyDrive team.
“I hope that the spectators gathered at the EXPO vertiport to see our aircraft take off and fly will now find it easier to imagine how eVTOL aircraft flights will in future become a regular part of our daily routine. We will continue to prioritize flight safety, ensuring that visitors to the Expo over the coming weeks can enjoy the experience of seeing the airborne SKYDRIVE.”
