Airbus Unveils CityAirbus NextGen Prototype, Paving the Way for Advanced Air Mobility

Airbus Unveils CityAirbus NextGen Prototype, Paving the Way for Advanced Air Mobility

(IN BRIEF) Airbus has revealed its latest innovation, the CityAirbus NextGen prototype, signaling a significant advancement in the realm of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The fully electric aircraft, designed for urban operations, boasts a two-tonne class and an impressive 80 km range with a cruise speed of 120 km/h. The unveiling ceremony, held at the new CityAirbus test centre in Donauwörth, coincides with Airbus’ commitment to the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The test centre, inaugurated with the power-on of the CityAirbus NextGen in December 2023, will facilitate crucial testing procedures ahead of the prototype’s maiden flight later this year, covering various systems including electric motors, flight controls, and avionics. In parallel, Airbus is forging strategic partnerships, such as with LCI, to establish a robust ecosystem supportive of the burgeoning AAM market.

(PRESS RELEASE) DONAUÖRTH, 8-Mar-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Airbus has presented its full electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype to the public, ahead of its maiden flight later this year. The two-tonne class CityAirbus, with a wing span of approximately 12 metres,  is being developed to fly with a 80 km range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for operations in major cities for a variety of missions.

The unveiling coincided with the opening of the new CityAirbus test centre in Donauwörth, which will be dedicated to testing systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). The centre, which is part of Airbus’ ongoing and long-term investment in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), began its operations with the CityAirbus NextGen’s power-on in December 2023 and it will be now used for the remaining tests required before the prototype’s maiden flight later in the year. These tests cover the electric motors with their eight rotors as well as the aircraft’s other systems such as flight controls and avionics.

“Rolling out CityAirbus NextGen for the very first time is an important and very real step that we are taking towards advanced air mobility and our future product and market. Thank you to our community, team and partners all over the world for helping us make this a reality,” said Balkiz Sarihan, Head of Urban Air Mobility at Airbus.

At the same time, Airbus is expanding its global network and partnerships to create a unique ecosystem that will foster a successful and viable AAM market. Airbus recently signed a partnership agreement with LCI, a leading aviation company, to focus on the development of partnership scenarios and business models in three core AAM areas: strategy, commercialisation and financing.

@AirbusHeli #AAM #CityAirbus NextGen

Media Contacts:

Laurence Petiard
Airbus Helicopters
Phone: +33 6 18 79 75 69
laurence.petiard@airbus.com

Jörg Michel
Airbus Helicopters
Phone: +49 151 264 509 97
joerg.michel@airbus.com

SOURCE: AIRBUS