Beyond Aero has unveiled adjustments to the design for its planned hydrogen-powered business jet. In a program update released on March 17, the French start-up shared details about the powertrain’s architecture featuring hydrogen fuel cells and a pair of ducted fan electric motors, with 700-bar fuel tanks now positioned in the wingbox and wingtips.

Diamond Aircraft is absorbing eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter after its Chinese owner Wanfeng agreed to acquire the company’s assets from a court-appointed insolvency administrator. Volocopter on March 14 issued a statement saying it is being integrated with Austria-based Diamond Aircraft Industries but will continue to operate from its headquarters in Bruchsal, Germany.

Virgin Atlantic Airways is backing Joby Aviation’s plans to launch eVTOL air taxi services in the UK. The companies announced a partnership on March 16, saying they will establish flight networks in the north and south of the UK, based, respectively, out of hubs at Manchester Airport and London Heathrow Airport.

Loch Lomond Seaplanes has announced plans to start scheduled flights using the new Noemi electric amphibious aircraft being developed by Norwegian start-up Elfly. On March 17, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding covering provisional orders for two of the nine-seaters, plus options for another three.

Hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft developer Ascendance has selected Safran Electrical & Power’s EngineUS electric motor to power its Atea prototype. A pair of EngineUS electric motors will provide more than 100 kilowatts to drive Atea’s two horizontal propellers during cruise flight as part of the French start-up's Sterna propulsion architecture, which also includes eight ducted fans for vertical flight.

ZeroAvia is making its SuperStack Flex hydrogen fuel cell technology available to companies developing various uncrewed aircraft systems and VTOL aircraft. This week, the propulsion innovator reported that new additive manufacturing techniques have allowed it to scale the hardware to provide smaller versions of the equipment with lower power levels of between 100 and 600 kilowatts.

Ascent Aerosystems, a drone maker and wholly owned subsidiary of Robinson Helicopter, unveiled its latest UAV on March 11 at the Verticon show in Dallas. Called Helius, it is the company’s first product in the sub-250-gram category.