Swiss eVTOL completes first hover flight in big milestone

A Swiss eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) has hit a big milestone by completing its first hover flight.

The Aero2 X2.3 is the latest work by aviation company Dufour Aerospace, who recently retired the Aero2 prototype.

A completed hover flight moves the X2.3 one step closer towards being certified commercially.

With the end goal being fully autonomous operations, this is a step in the right direction.

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The Aero2 X2.3 eVTOL has lift off

The Aero2 X2.3 completed its first successful hover flight this month, meaning the next step is for it to achieve forward movement.

As the latest prototype, the X2.3 brings some new design elements to the table, including a H-tail.

The wheels are out and a skid landing gear is in, resembling the underside of a helicopter.

With production deliveries planned to roll out in 2025, according to Aviation Week, the hope is that the X2.3 will deliver medical supplies and organ transplants.

It’s also intended to carry out surveillance jobs.

With a length of 20ft and weighing 450Ibs, the eVTOL can fly up to 250 miles at a speed of 93mph.

Dufour’s previous track record

Last year, Dufour sent an Aero2 X2.2 from Zurich to Oregon, USA.

This was the location of Spright, Dufour’s US customer, who then took it out for demonstration flights.

Should the X2.3 pass final testing, it will begin operating in the US from next year, as Autoevolution reported.

eVTOLs are all the rage these days, with companies competing to build more efficient tech all the time.

This Chinese company created an air taxi earlier this year which can carry up to five people.

There are also VTOLs (Vertical take-off and landing) which were lined up for use at the Paris Olympics this summer.