The AMSL Vertiia during its first untethered flight in early November. Photo: AMSL Aero.
An Australia-designed zero-emission passenger-carrying aircraft which can take off and land like a helicopter but travel at conventional aircraft speeds has made its first successful flight.
The Vertiia is the first Australian-designed vertical take-off and land (VTOL) zero-emission passenger aircraft, and made its first untethered flight in western NSW in early November.
Dubbed by manufacturer AMSL Aero as the most complex civil aircraft ever developed in Australia, the Vertiia is designed to fly more than 1000 km on hydrogen fuel at 300 km/h with a load of up to four passengers and a pilot.
The aircraft is a staggered biplane configuration, with wings below and forward, and above and behind a central pod. Each wing has four four-bladed propellors with nacelles which rotate for horizontal or vertical flight. The only emissions from its planned hydrogen-fuelled engines is water vapour.
The first flight was conducted by remote control using battery power, and was overseen by officials from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Sine then, it has conducted more than 50 successful take-offs and landings.
Prior to the untethered flight, the aircraft had made several tethered flights, and it is scheduled to make its first hydrogen-powered flight in 2025.
To date, AMSL Aero has received orders and deposits for 26 Vertiia aircraft, including 20 from Aviation Logistics, which operates the Air Link, AirMed and Chartair brands covering passenger services, aircraft charter, air freight and aeromedical flights across Australia.
The company hopes to achieve certification and regulatory approval in 2027, after which the Vertiia can commence commercial operations.
A Vertiia was also displayed at September’s Land Forces 2024 conference and exposition in Melbourne configured in a camouflaged aeromedical configuration, but no military orders have been announced.
AMSL Aero Co-Founder, chief engineer and Vertiia inventor Andrew Moore said watching the Vertiia take to the sky in free flight was a breathtaking experience for him and his engineers.
“This landmark is proof that the design we pioneered seven years ago works, and it moves us closer to our goal of improving the lives of remote, rural and regional communities in Australia and around the world with an aircraft that conquers the tyranny of distance with zero emissions,” he said.
AMSL Aero CEO Max York added, “Today marks a huge milestone on AMSL Aero’s journey and places the company on a very short list of global leaders in advanced eVTOL development.
“Very few aircraft companies build a full-scale aircraft and get it safely off the ground,” he added.
“What AMSL Aero has achieved with a small focused team is incredible and shows what can be done when you have a clear vision and amazing talent.”
A Vertiia mockup in its proposed production configuration. Photo: AMSL Aero.
