Lilium and SEGULA begin building Lilium Jet test facility

Lilium N.V., developer of the eVTOL Lilium Jet and a global pioneer in regional air mobility (RAM), in partnership with SEGULA Technologies, has begun construction of an advanced test facility for integration and certification testing of the Lilium Jet. Located at Lilium’s headquarters near Munich, Germany, the state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to become operational in late summer 2024.

The test site will house a complete, fully integrated aircraft for testing the Lilium Jet’s avionics, flight controls, propulsion system and electrical power system. As part of the Lilium Jet’s certification campaign, the facility will simulate flights and verify the aircraft’s performance through multiple flight profiles.

Alongside the construction of the first Lilium Jet, which began at the end of 2023, this test site represents a crucial step towards the first piloted flight, targeted for the end of this year, and the type-certification of the Lilium Jet. As an EASA-design organisation approval holder, Lilium is qualified to undertake conformity of test articles and testing to demonstrate compliance with the applicable certification basis. The test facility will enable Lilium to perform these tasks independently of EASA, with an agreed level of involvement.

Covering a total area of 26,000 ft² (2,400 m²), the test facility will include an aircraft mounting frame for aircraft loads and moments, an airflow management system to simulate representative flight conditions and charging and cooling equipment for the aircraft’s batteries. Aerodynamic testing will be supported by a powerful 1.2-megawatt blower, supplied by international engineering company VIRO, capable of simulating crosswinds and tailwinds up to 40 mph (65 km/h).

For its expertise in test rigs, calculations, simulations and its comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, SEGULA Technologies was chosen by Lilium to design the test facility. The project team, comprising approximately thirty experts across several sites (including Cologne and Munich in Germany and Vitrolles and Lyon in France), brings specialised skills in mechanical design, calculation and fluid simulations.

Stephen Vellacott, Chief Technology Officer of Lilium, said: “The test facility will be a cornerstone of the Lilium Jet certification programme, allowing us to test multiple flight missions as well as failure scenarios in a controlled environment on the ground. Alongside the flight demonstration, ground-based testing will play a critical role on the path towards certification of the Lilium Jet. We are pleased to have such an experienced and reliable partner like SEGULA Technologies for the test rig design and value especially the team’s multidisciplinary approach.”