Flying Taxi Startup Powers Electric Jet for First Time

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) jet maker Lilium completed the first systems power-on test of its MSN1 electric jet.

For the test of the first in-production Lilium jet, high-voltage was applied to the flying vehicle and converted for the low-voltage avionics systems to power the cockpit display, flight controls, communication, navigation and surveillance systems. 

The procedure is like the power-on acceptance test procedure used for conventional commercial plane manufacturing.  

“Power-on is an important quality gate in the production process of any commercial aircraft,” said Stephen Vellacott, Lilium chief technology officer. “The two Lilium jets now on our final assembly line, and those to come, will be conforming aircraft, built to the specifications of our design organization, according to documented processes and in line with established aerospace procedures. When it comes to aircraft production, process control, repeatability, traceability and above all safety is paramount.” 

The MSN 1 electric jet is scheduled to become the Lilium lab test aircraft, known as an iron bird and would be a fully functional flying vehicle to be used to prove compliance with airworthiness requirements. 

The MSN 2, the second Lilium Jet in final assembly, would be the first electric aerial vehicle (EAV) Lilium intends to fly with a pilot on board in 2025. 

Related:Flying Taxi Company Debuts Electric Jet Vehicle in US

Lilium plans to fly six test EAVs up to type-certification and entry into service in 2026.  

Lilium recently introduced its electric jet into the U.S. market with its debut at a Houston, Texas, airport with EMCJET, a Houston-based aircraft brokerage firm that plans to showcase the jet at Galaxy FBO (fixed base operator).

Lilium partnered with Galaxy FBO allowing the EAV to be featured at its Houston Hobby Airport, Conroe North Houston Regional Airport and The Woodlands Heliport.

The eVTOL jet has an operating range of about 110 miles and would be capable of connecting routes such as Houston Hobby Airport to Galveston, Houston Spaceport to College Station and The Woodlands to Galveston.

EMCJET has a broad partnership with Lilium, which includes production slots for EAVs, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2026.

The Lilium eVTOL craft is a jet, unlike most EAVs.

The seven-seater vehicles are planned as a regional air mobility service, connecting cities and towns up to 125 miles apart at speeds of up to 185 mph.

The flying vehicle features forward canards (small wings near the front) along with main wings and a distributed propulsion system with fixed landing gear without hydraulics.

Related:Flying Taxi Company Signs Deal to Sell 100 Electric Jets

The flying taxi maker has been arranging numerous partnerships as it gets closer to 2025 test flights.

Lilium also has an agreement to sell up to 100 Lilium electric jets to Saudia Group for delivery in 2026 and be managed and run by Saudia Private.

Based on the Saudia Group deal, 50 jets would be delivered first with an option to purchase 50 more.

Lilium also has announced it is selling four jets to Volare Aviation subsidiary eVolare, 

one of the largest helicopter and private jet operators in the U.K. 

Evolare plans to operate the EAVs to connect London with outer cities and coastal areas of England with the goal of having 16 vehicles for use in the London area.

The Lilium order pipeline comprises 106 orders and reservations, 76 options and 600 aircraft under early agreements, according to the company.

Lilium recently teamed with a vertiport operator and an airport management company to create a vertiport network for EAVs in the French Riviera.

Lilium, UrbanV and Aeroports de la Cote d’Azur plan to bring Lilium electric jet flights to the South of France starting in 2026. 

The plan is to create a network to connect the French Riviera with Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Golfe de Saint-Tropez, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.

Related:Flying Taxi Company Sells Electric Jets for London

The partners plan to establish and operate eVTOL vehicles within a network of vertiports including Nice Côte d’Azur airport, the second-largest airport in France, with Cannes Mandelieu Airport and Golfe de Saint-Tropez Airport.

Lilium also has announced an advanced test facility at the Lilium headquarters in Munich where it plans to house a fully integrated EAV to test avionics, flight controls, propulsion and electrical power systems. 

Lilium recently received an order for 20 of its vehicles from UrbanLink, which plans to operate them for trips to Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.

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During takeoff, the EAV would use its 36 electric ducted fans to hover for up to 25 seconds and 20 seconds during the landing phase, according to the company. Most of the flight time would be in the cruise stage with a relatively short takeoff and landing time.

Lilium has teamed with the Lufthansa Group to explore opportunities in aviation including ground and flight operations, EAV maintenance and flight training in Europe.

The EAV maker is also teaming with jet and helicopter operator PhilJets to establish advanced air mobility (AAM) services in the Philippines and other Southeast Asia countries.

Lilium and PhilJets plan to jointly develop routes and determine passenger demand for an on-demand eVTOL service in the region, a deal that includes the sale of 10 jets to PhilJets.

LuftCar, the Florida developer of a hydrogen-powered eVTOL, is also expanding into the Philippines via a recent partnership with eFrancisco Motor Corporation to develop and deploy the LuftCar flying car system in the Philippines.