FARNBOROUGH — On day zero of the Farnborough Airshow, EVE Air Mobility unveiled its first full-scale prototype. Ahead of the airshow, and in tradition with the events of the 2022 airshow, EVE Air Mobility hosted a press conference in its chalet C105, shared with the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. 

Built in the Embraer test facility of Gaviao Peixoto, Sao Paulo State, the video showcased by the manufacturer illustrated the propulsion, aerodynamics and material characteristics of the first prototype. 

The design includes eight dedicated propellers for take-off and landing. A pusher propeller will deliver the in-flight propulsion, powered by dual electric motors for redundancy. During this phase, the eight lift-off propellers will be switched off, minimising noise, and the carbon fibre wing will provide the necessary cruise lift.

"Our global team of engineers have shown exceptional dedication and expertise to successfully assemble our first full-scale eVTOL prototype," said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility. "This significant milestone underscores our commitment to safety, accessibility and innovation. As we now turn our attention toward the preparation of a rigorous testing campaign, we are not just creating an aircraft, we're building a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions that will shape the future of the Advanced Air Mobility industry."

Another highlight of the press conference was the primary suppliers announcement. EVE announced that 100% of vital suppliers were selected ahead of the airshow, setting another major milestone towards the eVTOL’s first flight.

After the press conference, Airways interviewed Luiz Valentini, EVE’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Luiz leads the development of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. An expert in aerodynamics and flight mechanics, he has worked on numerous Embraer airplane designs. 

“The prototype has simplified solutions with respect to the final product. It represents how systems and subsystems will work together,” said Valentini. “The 94.6 million USD will suffice after 2027, after our planned entry into service in 2026. Firstly, regarding the power distribution system, we have named ASE. Secondly, Diehl Aviation will supply the aircraft interior. This allowed us to complete a 100% critical suppliers list, which could radically affect the final aircraft configuration. We will announce further suppliers in the upcoming months. These will not influence the final concept design, yet will complement it. Therefore, do not expect any major configuration changes.”

“Our focus is on short-range transportation. For this vehicle, it was very important to balance aspects such as costs, range and weight. The urban air mobility mission comprises short flights, for example, from airports to downtown, or sightseeing, taking off and landing in the same airport. As battery technology advances, we look forward to expanding our mission in the future.”

The company also highlighted its state-of-the-art technology, aimed at innovating the eVTOL industry. With no single point of failure, safety and reliability are at the core of the aircraft design.

Regarding emissions and societal acceptance, Mr. Valentini commented, “Our vehicle is 100% powered by batteries, which can and should be recharged with sustainable energy. Noise emissions are a crucial design feature. In most missions, we expect customers to turn off the eight propellers and only use the pushing propellers, taking advantage of the fixed-wings aerodynamics.”

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Farnborough 2024 Build-up

The 2022 edition of the Farnborough Airshow saw EVE Air Mobility unveil its cabin mock-up to the public in a ceremony held on the Sunday before the airshow officially opened. The cabin mock-up was displayed once again in Farnborough.

Before the Farnborough Airshow, EVE Air Mobility announced $94.6 million USD in new equity to support the development of its electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The capitalisation follows a substantial streak of announcements coming from the manufacturer. In May, EVE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Groupe ADP, targeting operations out of Paris-Le Bourget Airport.

In the past weeks, EVE released three teaser videos of its eVTOL, highlighting the company’s fast progress. The teasers are the cherry on the cake, following a long streak of worldwide announcements and partnerships. This includes long-term supply agreements with companies such as Recaro, BAE Systems, Honeywell, etc. At the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, EVE signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Saudia Technic, the leading MRO service provider in the Middle East.

“For the past several months, Eve has been sharing updates on the progress of our prototype. The Farnborough Airshow is an excellent opportunity to update and show the market that Eve has made significant progress towards creating a safe, sustainable and efficient advanced air mobility industry,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “We have matured our eVTOL program, and we believe that we are on the way to successfully building, certifying and delivering the right aircraft for the market.”

About EVE

Through its relationship with Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer, Eve can take advantage of Embraer’s 55 years of experience developing, designing, certifying, and producing aircraft as it develops its eVTOL. EVE Air Mobility counts a backlog of over 2900 orders for electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Customers include United Airlines, Wideroe Zero, and AirX. Together with the aircraft design, EVE Air Mobility is focusing on accelerating the eVTOL market worldwide. The company aims to provide comprehensive solutions for eVTOL, revolutionising air mobility. In July 2023, EVE announced its eVTOL production site in the Brazilian city of Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo.