Dominic Perry

UK defence officials have declared full operating capability (FOC) status for the Royal Navy's fleet of upgraded Leonardo Helicopters AW101 Merlin Mk4/4a rotorcraft.

Lilium's rescuer Mobile Uplift Corporation (MUC) has made a troubled start to its acquisition of the air taxi developer after employees that transferred to the new business were told their wages for January would be paid late.

Norwegian oil firm Equinor has selected offshore newcomer Tromso-based Lufttransport RW to operate a fleet of five new Leonardo Helicopters AW189 super-medium-twins for personnel transport missions.

Slovenia's Pipistrel Aircraft has performed the first hover flight of its Nuuva V300 hybrid-electric cargo drone.

With its latest VX4 prototype now making steady flight-test progress, and a more favourable funding position secured, the UK electric vertical take-off and landing developer is increasingly confident that the work taking place at its three UK facilities will see its Flightpath 2030 strategy delivered.

The EU's Clean Aviation body has provided more detail on the two new narrowbody engine concepts it plans to fund in its second phase, readying them for service entry around 2035.

ZeroAvia has agreed the certification basis with the US Federal Aviation Administration for its 600kW electric propulsion system (EPS).

French airship developer Flying Whales has selected the Evolito D250 electric motor to power its LCA60T programme.

Safran Electrical & Power has secured European certification for its ENGINeUS 100 electric motor in a claimed world first.

Vertical Aerospace hopes in the coming weeks to be able to start wing-borne flights with its VX4 prototype, for the first time taking the electric air taxi beyond the perimeter of its Kemble airfield base.