UK aviation company Skyfly Technologies Ltd. has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to establish U.S. operations at the SunTrax facility in Auburndale, Florida.
The agreement will give Skyfly access to one of the country’s leading advanced air mobility testing ecosystems. Under the terms of the LOI, the company intends to begin occupying leased space at SunTrax in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the parties planning to finalize a formal lease agreement in the coming months.
Skyfly is developing the Axe, a two-seat fixed-wing aircraft designed to conform to the Federal Aviation Administration’s new MOSAIC rules for Light-Sport Category aircraft. The all-electric aircraft features a tandem-wing carbon-composite airframe, eight fixed-angle electric motors and simplified flight controls. It can take off and land conventionally with a runway rollout or operate vertically without requiring a runway before cruising on its wings.
SunTrax will also support Skyfly’s growth in Florida through local workforce development, guidance on state and federal grants, and regulatory introductions, including with the FAA.
Michael Thompson, CEO of Skyfly Technologies, said, “Access to SunTrax gives us a world-class testing environment and puts us at the heart of one of the most important advanced air mobility ecosystems in the country. This is an important step in bringing Skyfly’s technology to the U.S. market.”
Skyfly’s plans were publicly showcased on August 10, 2026, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited SunTrax to highlight the facility’s expanding role in advanced air mobility and autonomous vehicle testing. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. also took part in the event, with Skyfly describing his participation as underlining the state’s support for its move into the Florida market.
Jared W. Perdue, P.E., Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, added, “FDOT’s partnership with Skyfly brings vital testing and workforce opportunities to Florida, further advancing this emerging mode of transportation. Skyfly establishing operations at SunTrax brings Florida one step closer to taking highways to the sky and making flying cars a reality.”
