Hartzell Propeller has become the first company to achieve FAA certification for a propeller designed specifically for advanced air mobility aircraft, the company announced on July 21. The Ohio-based manufacturer developed the propeller in collaboration with Beta Technologies and tested it exclusively on the latter’s electric aircraft to obtain FAA Part 35 type certification. 

Joby Aviation is ramping up eVTOL aircraft production at its pilot manufacturing facility in Marina, California, where the company completed a massive expansion project last month. Once the site becomes fully operational, it will be capable of producing 24 aircraft per year, or about one every two weeks, according to Joby.

ZeroAvia says it now holds 45 patents covering technology for the hydrogen-electric powertrains it intends to use to convert existing regional airliners. On July 17, the company reported it has more than 200 patent applications being processed by authorities in the U.S. and Europe.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft completed its first taxi test on July 10, the initial movement of the experimental jet under its own power. The test took place at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and signals the start of the final phase of ground testing before first flight.

Regent Craft, a Rhode Island-based company developing electric seagliders for coastal transportation, has launched a new product line geared toward maritime defense operations. This product line will include a fully autonomous version of the company’s Viceroy seaglider, a 12-passenger hydrofoiling wing-in-ground-effect vessel.

Civil aviation authorities from across the Asia-Pacific region this week issued joint guidance on how to regulate new eVTOL air taxi services and drone operations. Following a July 14 meeting in Singapore, the group of air safety leaders from 20 states announced the release of new reference materials on July 17.

Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL prototype is appearing at the UK’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) as part of the company’s plans to market the aircraft for defense and special missions applications. Its appearance at the July 18-20 event follows the company’s recent launch of plans to offer a hybrid-electric version of the aircraft that would have longer range.

Some urge Boeing to take the plunge “now” to launch a new airplane program. Institutional knowledge is slipping away, these people say.

Boeing hasn’t launched a new airplane since December 2003 (the 787). The 737 MAX is selling at a poor second to the Airbus A320neo family. Boeing continues to lose market share. On the other hand, Airbus is in no hurry to launch a new airplane program—or so it says. It can’t keep up with current demand.

LNA will take a five-part look at what the potential new airplanes and/or airplane technologies are for the coming decade or more.