The next chapter of sustainable air travel has taken flight – and in 10 years, it could be part of your daily journey.
Austrian aviation company CycloTech recently began flight testing its personal electric vertical takeoff and landing — or eVTOL — prototype aircraft. Called the BlackBird, the demonstrator’s inaugural flight, according to the company, marks “a major milestone in our mission to revolutionize air mobility.”
In a video documenting the flight, CycloTech’s chief technology officer, Tahsin Kart said it took 11 months to bring the BlackBird from concept to first flight. And while the first “flight” was more than a rotating liftoff, it still represents a step forward for the company’s technology.
The BlackBird prototype is powered by CycloRotors — barrel-shaped rotors inspired by marine propellers. These rotors have blades designed to change angle as they spin, allowing the aircraft to move quickly in any direction without the need to turn its body.
The BlackBird prototype uses six CycloRotors — four mounted horizontally and two vertically — to facilitate vertical takeoff and landing. These rotors also help the aircraft to stop in mid-air while remaining stable, even in tough flying conditions.
In its inaugural flight, the BlackBird was unmanned and remotely controlled by technicians. The aircraft was intended as a technology demonstrator, validating the capabilities of CycloTech’s CycloRotor propulsion system for its larger project, the CruiseUp.
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As Kart said in the video, “This isn’t the finish line – it’s the launchpad.”
The CruiseUp is a two-seater personal air vehicle designed for urban and suburban travel. It aims for a top speed of around 95 miles per hour and a range of around 60 miles, making it suitable for most city trips. The CruiseUp is slated for a market debut in 2035 or later.
Similar to electric vehicles, eVTOL aircraft offer a promising path for more practical and efficient sustainable transport. Studies suggest a three-passenger eVTOL can produce 52% less carbon pollution than a gas-powered car – even when its batteries are charged using polluting energy sources. If charged with cleaner power, the environmental benefits are even greater.
In light of the successful demo flight, CycloTech said it is now accelerating its flight test program and refining the technology for use in the CruiseUp.
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Kart said of the company, “We drive progress and redefine what is possible in vertical flight.”
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