Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 has become the first all-electric aircraft to land at a New York City airport. In partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, one of Beta’s prototypes landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on June 3 after a 45-minute demonstration flight with a pilot and four passengers, including Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal and Republic Airways president Matt Koscal.

To make the case for its blended-wing-body Kona cargo aircraft, Natilus is partnering with Swiss logistics group Kuehne+Nagel International to study the environmental, economic, and operational impact it could have on commercial freight operations. According to Natilus, the blended-wing-body design of the Kona aircraft enables a 30% reduction in fuel consumption through aerodynamic efficiency gains while increasing payload capacity by 40%. 

Saudi Arabian group Abdul Latif Jameel Abdul Latif Jameel has committed to being a local distributor for Joby’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft.  A memorandum of understanding announced on June 3 calls for the delivery of up 200 of the vehicles and the provision of related services that Joby said could be worth $1 billion in total.

Hermeus has taken its next step toward hypersonic flight with its first test vehicle, Quarterhorse Mk1, taking to the skies. Quarterhorse Mk1, the first flight-test vehicle in a series of uncrewed aircraft Hermeus is planning as it progresses toward a 20-seat hypersonic aircraft, flew during late May at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Deutsche Aircraft has unveiled the first prototype of its D328eco regional airliner. The test aircraft, designated TAC 1, was rolled out on May 28 at the German company’s headquarters at the Airtech Campus in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Archer Aviation has started piloted flight tests with its Midnight eVTOL aircraft prototype. On June 2, the company announced that the first flights with chief test pilot Jeff Greenwood at the controls took place in California last week.

Vertiport developer UrbanV has launched a collaboration with prospective eVTOL aircraft operator Future Flight Global. Under a partnership agreement signed on May 29, the companies said they will initially focus on efforts to launch advanced air mobility services in Rome, where UrbanV is based, before expanding to other sites at Bologna and Venice, as well as in the south of France, North America, South America, and the Middle East.