The Future of Private Flight

The Lilium Jet is a 7-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for regional air mobility. It uses 30 electric jet engines integrated into the wing and canard. Lilium has secured type certification basis with both EASA and the FAA, and is building a manufacturing facility in Gauting, Germany.

Joby Aviation is the furthest along in the FAA certification process for an eVTOL aircraft in the United States. The S4 uses six tilting propellers for vertical takeoff and transition to wing-borne flight. Toyota has invested over $700 million in Joby, and the company has partnered with Delta Air Lines for airport-to-city shuttle services.

Archer's Midnight aircraft is designed for urban air mobility on routes of 20-50 miles. The company has partnerships with United Airlines and Stellantis for manufacturing. Archer is focused on initial service in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami — markets where ground transportation congestion makes air mobility economically compelling.

The VoloCity is a multicopter design from German manufacturer Volocopter. Unlike tilt-rotor designs, the VoloCity uses 18 fixed rotors for vertical flight. It is designed for short urban hops — airport to city center, helipad to helipad. Volocopter is focused on European and Asian markets initially, with Paris (2024 Olympics demo) and Singapore as launch cities.

The VX4 is a tilt-rotor eVTOL from Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace. The company has pre-orders from American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Avolon. The VX4 is designed for regional routes and airport transfers. Vertical Aerospace has taken a more conservative timeline than some competitors, targeting entry into service in the 2027-2028 window.