Australian aerospace company AMSL Aero’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft Vertiia has completed its maiden test flight in the Central West region of New South Wales.
This marks the first-ever flight done by an Australian-made eVTOL, which is the new generation of aircraft designed to take off and land like a helicopter but fly like a plane.
The test flight was conducted in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority regulations.
Vertiia has zero carbon emissions and is capable of carrying four passengers at a cruising speed of 300 kph.
The aircraft is capable of reaching a height of up to 1,000 km, which is three times the range of any eVTOL, making it the most efficient in the world, according to AMSL Aero.
Vertiia will cruise at 300 km per hour, with its initial range going at 250 km on battery and 1,000 km on hydrogen power, enabling the aircraft to connect Australian regional hubs such as Armidale to Coffs Harbour or Dubbo to Sydney.
The company is planning to commercially launch Vertiia for customers in the aeromedical, cargo, emergency, and regional air mobility sectors.
AMSL Aero co-founder Siobhan Lyndon said Vertiia will enable greater access to medical services for vulnerable remote, rural, and regional communities.
“Vertiia is not only safe and quiet but it was also developed for the harsh long-distance conditions in Australia. If it can work in Australia, it can work anywhere,” Lyndon said.
Unlike aeromedical planes that require a runway, Lyndon said Vertiia will carry patients directly from any location straight to the hospital, significantly reducing the complexity and time required to transport patients in critical conditions.
“It will also be quieter and safer than helicopters and will eventually cost as little as a car to maintain and run, transforming aeromedical transport into a far more affordable, accessible, safer and reliable option,” Lyndon added.
