German eVTOL aircraft developer Lilium filed for insolvency on February 21 for the second time in just under four months after a consortium of investors failed to produce promised new capital. In a short statement, Lilium Aerospace—the name the company adopted in early January after MUC Mobile Uplift Corporation agreed to buy the group’s German assets—indicated the business will now shut down.

Aircraft battery developer Amprius has secured an order for $15 million worth of SiCore lithium-ion battery cells from an unnamed drone manufacturer, the company announced on February 25. While Amprius did not disclose the customer or reveal any details about the drone that will use its SiCore cells, the California-based battery producer said the purchase order followed field trials with a “fixed-wing UAS platform.” Judging by the aircraft manufacturer’s battery selection, it could be a relatively large drone with high power demands.

Autonomous flight pioneer Merlin is teaming with cargo airline Quikjet to assess how pilot fatigue and wellness can affect their performance on the job. The results of the study could help shape future industry standards for safety while also informing the design of the Merlin Pilot autonomous flight control system, according to Merlin.

Commercial operations with eVTOL aircraft in China are expected to be based on applications such as logistics and sightseeing for several more years before early market entrants secure the Part 135 approvals they will need to launch air taxi services. According to Louis Liu, CEO of Beijing-based advanced air mobility group DAP Technologies, it will likely be 2028 before the air taxi business model is approved for Chinese cities. However, many of these are already implementing plans to exploit the so-called low-altitude economy by encouraging early adoption of eVTOL vehicles and drones.

JetWind Power is urging airports to harness energy generated by engine thrust as airplanes start taxiing to the runway. According to the Texas-based start-up, a three-year trial operation at Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL) established that each of its Energy Capturing Pods, which consist of five small airfoil wind turbines enclosed by a protective mesh, can generate between 50 and 80 kilowatts of electricity each day.

The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport (KSGH) in Ohio will host the first annual Pulitzer Electric Aircraft Race in October. Organized by the Advanced Air Mobility Institute, the race is intended to revive the 100-year-old tradition of the Pulitzer air speed races held in the 1920s, while providing a public platform for innovation in aviation.

Draco Aircraft has confirmed the choice of Pratt & Whitney’s PT6A-135A engine to power a modernized version of the PZL-104 Wilga aircraft. The Polish start-up says the four-seater will be a “hyper” short takeoff and landing aircraft with a takeoff distance of just under 100 feet.