Lilium has announced it is to begin flight tests with its fifth-generation technology demonstrator, Phoenix 2, at the ATLAS Flight Test Center in Jaén, Spain. ATLAS (Air Traffic Laboratory for Advanced unmanned Systems) is the first facility of its type in Spain and unique to Europe, created exclusively for and dedicated to the testing of light and tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
Lilium has developed the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet and the company will be extending the flight envelope through the full transition and high-speed flight. This next phase of testing comes on the back of successful tests performed in Germany last year. Lilium will also be introducing Phoenix 3, its latest demonstrator jet, for its maiden flight in Spain in the summer this year. It is anticipated that Phoenix 3 will significantly accelerate the flight test campaign, allowing Lilium to increase learnings and reduce programme risks.
The modern facilities and support from the Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development (FADA) and Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (CATEC) have played a major role in setting Lilium up for a successful flight test campaign. Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium said: “We are excited to have kicked off our next phase of flight testing in Spain. This step takes us even closer to reaching our goal of creating a sustainable and accessible mode of high-speed, low noise regional air mobility.”
