Photo: SkyDrive
South Carolina residents and tourists will soon have access to the Japanese SkyDrive eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) through SAI Flight, a local private jet charter company certified to integrate electric air taxi flights into its operations.
SAI Flight has committed to purchasing ten aircraft from SkyDrive, and the two have also entered a partnership with Greenville Downtown Airport to develop real-life use cases and the most efficient routes for the Japanese eVTOL in South Carolina. It's an important step toward AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) operations in the state, which is why this project is also supported by local authorities and industry players.
There's no official date yet, but SAI Flight is gearing up to integrate ten SkyDrive eVTOLs into its fleet and provide the local community with access to electric air mobility. The project isn't limited to passenger transport applications but cargo and emergency use as well in order to take full advantage of this electric aircraft's versatility.
For SAI Flight and Greenville Downtown Airport, it's an important chance to become one of the few AAM pioneers in the region. For SkyDrive, this new project is another step forward in the process of conquering the American market. It began early last year when the Japanese company officially opened its US base.
In March this year, it joined forces with private air charter operator Bravo Air to launch air taxi operations in Augusta, Georgia. From the beginning, SkyDrive set out to expand its presence throughout the entire Southeast area, and this new project in South Carolina proves it's on the right track. Prior to that, Austin Aviation was the first US-based operator to pre-order SkyDrive's eVTOL.
SkyDrive has gained notoriety in this emerging industry as one of the few AAM companies backed by an automotive giant. SkyDrive's SD-05 eVTOL will be manufactured at the Suzuki-owned plant in Iwata City, Japan, with an estimated capacity of 100 units per year.
And what better place and time to publicly launch this Japanese eVTOL than the upcoming World Expo 2025 taking place in Osaka, Japan? This highly-anticipated event is gearing up to be a historic moment for the AAM industry, with numerous eVTOLs set up to debut public flights during that time.
The SD-05 was introduced as a compact and lightweight alternative to other eVTOLs, and it was awarded the prestigious International Forum (iF) Design Award for "the most accessible flying car." The SD-)5 is fitted with 12 rotors, and it's meant for short-distance flights of a maximum of 9 miles (15 km) at a top speed of 62 mph (100 kph). This two-passenger version (plus the pilot) is an evolution of the original SD-03, the ultra-compact electric aircraft that claimed to be the world's smallest eVTOL.
There's no official date yet, but SAI Flight is gearing up to integrate ten SkyDrive eVTOLs into its fleet and provide the local community with access to electric air mobility. The project isn't limited to passenger transport applications but cargo and emergency use as well in order to take full advantage of this electric aircraft's versatility.
For SAI Flight and Greenville Downtown Airport, it's an important chance to become one of the few AAM pioneers in the region. For SkyDrive, this new project is another step forward in the process of conquering the American market. It began early last year when the Japanese company officially opened its US base.
In March this year, it joined forces with private air charter operator Bravo Air to launch air taxi operations in Augusta, Georgia. From the beginning, SkyDrive set out to expand its presence throughout the entire Southeast area, and this new project in South Carolina proves it's on the right track. Prior to that, Austin Aviation was the first US-based operator to pre-order SkyDrive's eVTOL.
SkyDrive has gained notoriety in this emerging industry as one of the few AAM companies backed by an automotive giant. SkyDrive's SD-05 eVTOL will be manufactured at the Suzuki-owned plant in Iwata City, Japan, with an estimated capacity of 100 units per year.
And what better place and time to publicly launch this Japanese eVTOL than the upcoming World Expo 2025 taking place in Osaka, Japan? This highly-anticipated event is gearing up to be a historic moment for the AAM industry, with numerous eVTOLs set up to debut public flights during that time.
The SD-05 was introduced as a compact and lightweight alternative to other eVTOLs, and it was awarded the prestigious International Forum (iF) Design Award for "the most accessible flying car." The SD-)5 is fitted with 12 rotors, and it's meant for short-distance flights of a maximum of 9 miles (15 km) at a top speed of 62 mph (100 kph). This two-passenger version (plus the pilot) is an evolution of the original SD-03, the ultra-compact electric aircraft that claimed to be the world's smallest eVTOL.
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