SkyDrive Inc. has successfully completed a series of pilotless demonstration flights of its SD-05 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to simulate future scenic tourist operations over the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan.
The trials took place at a test site within the Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park and were observed by local government officials, including Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka and Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly Vice Chairperson Toru Kawano, alongside Toshihiro Suzuki, the representative director and president of SkyDrive’s production partner, Suzuki Motor Corporation.
The demonstration consisted of two flights operated under autonomous control and remote piloting without any crew or passengers on board. The first flight, conducted at approximately 8:00 AM on Monday, July 13, 2026, covered a distance of two kilometers over six minutes and 20 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 86 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 30 meters. The second flight followed at roughly 11:05 AM, covering 1,900 meters in five minutes and 42 seconds at a maximum speed of 54 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 25 meters.
To fully simulate future commercial tourist operations, the trials incorporated a physical run-through of the end-to-end passenger journey. This demonstrated a seamless transit model where travelers arriving at the vertiport by car could immediately board the aircraft without delay.
SkyDrive has now conducted more than 300 test flights of its prototype aircraft across various Japanese locations, including Toyota City, Yamaguchi City, Osaka Port, the Expo 2025 Osaka venue, and Tokyo Big Sight. The company intends to establish electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology as a viable transport option to bypass urban congestion, provide post-disaster emergency relief, and generate new regional tourism opportunities.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, the founder and CEO of SkyDrive Inc., stated, “I was proud and delighted to see today the successful completion of our demonstration flight here in Yamaguchi, a milestone that builds upon our previous flights at the Expo 2025, Osaka Port, and Tokyo Big Sight. I also am extremely grateful to our immensely supportive partners, including Governor Muraoka, Assembly Vice Chairperson Kawano, and President Suzuki of Suzuki Motor Company, for taking the time to visit our test facility and share this experience with us.”
He further explained how these operations fit into the company’s broader timeline, “Today’s flight simulated a concrete example of how eVTOL will be integrated into future tourist experiences. These scenic flights are a key pillar of the commercial eVTOL services we plan for 2028. In our simulation today, passengers arrived by road, demonstrating the seamless, zero-wait time switch from road transport to eVTOL, a model case that showcases the potential of next-generation urban air mobility to drive tourism in various destinations. SkyDrive also looks forward to working with our railway company partners to deliver the same seamless transitions we saw today, showing how both road and rail travel will link smoothly into eVTOL departures.”
Fukuzawa concluded, “With safety as our utmost priority, SkyDrive continues to make progress in our aircraft development and production. While some of our earliest use cases will be tourist flights, as demonstrated today, our ultimate goal is to create sustainable, wide-ranging eVTOL infrastructure that addresses diverse social challenges, boosts urban and regional economies, supports post-disaster relief, and provides emergency medical care.”
