On June 7, 2022, at UP Summit, an annual gathering of leaders in transportation innovation hosted by investment firm UP Partners, urban air mobility (UAM) pioneer Volocopter announced that it has achieved another milestone towards bringing UAM to life: its fixed-wing passenger aircraft, the VoloConnect, completed its first flight in May 2022. This accomplishment makes Volocopter the only eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) developer worldwide to have an entire fleet of distinct aircraft configurations undergoing flight tests.
Volocopter's third product solution, the VoloConnect, offers further and faster journeys than any other Volocopter aircraft to date, with a range of over 60 miles and flight speeds above 155 mph. The passenger plane's extended range and higher payload will bring business travellers and commuters beyond the city centre on routes like Burbank to Huntington Beach in Los Angeles, CA. With the VoloCity and VoloConnect air taxi designs fulfilling demand for metropolitan flights and suburban connections in densely populated regions respectively, Volocopter is ready to serve a broader range of passengers' flight needs. Moreover, the VoloConnect is targeting a 2026 entry into service, while the VoloCity is targeting commercial launch in 2024.
“Having a whole family of electric aircraft in the test-flight phase is a pioneering feat. Volocopter's leadership in the industry stems from announcing plans and then delivering on them visibly with public test flights. Our technology platform is the foundation for our family of aircraft approach and has proven to deliver results at an astounding speed. Volocopter is bringing these innovative designs off the ground, into the air and then to cities worldwide!” said Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter.
