Joby Aviation has completed several piloted test flights with its eVTOL aircraft prototype, covering full transition from vertical to cruise flight and back again. On April 29, the company reported that the first such flight happened a week ago on April 22 and that since then, multiple transition flights have been made with three different pilots at the controls.

Public demonstration flights of Lift Aircraft's Hexa eVTOL vehicle at the Osaka-Kansai World Expo in Japan have been temporarily suspended following an April 26 incident in which the single-seat model suffered an apparent mechanical failure.

Piasecki Aircraft is adding Kaman Air Vehicles’ Kargo UAV to its helicopters and drones portfolio. On April 29, the U.S. manufacturer announced it is acquiring the program from Kaman without disclosing the financial terms, and said it will now accelerate development of the aircraft and have a production-ready vehicle built by late 2026.

United Airlines has committed to an unspecified investment in JetZero’s plans to develop a blended-wing-body aircraft. On April 24, the carrier said the agreement reached with the U.S. start-up “includes a path” to place orders for 100 of the 250-seat Z4 airliner, with options for another 100 units.

Boom Supersonic is opening a new facility at the Colorado Air and Space Port to support ground tests of the Symphony engine it is developing for its planned Overture supersonic airliner. The facility was previously occupied by British aerospace group Reaction Engines, which used the space to develop hypersonic rocket engines.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has approved the design for what is expected to become Abu Dhabi’s first “hybrid heliport”—a facility supporting both helicopters and eVTOL aircraft. Plans call for a major transformation of an existing cruise ship terminal at Zayed Port, where helicopter operator Falcon Aviation Services offers sightseeing flights for tourists.

Cormorant Aerospace has built a technology demonstrator for its planned eight- passenger hybrid-electric aircraft. The model, designated as an “operational surface prototype,” will be used for ground testing as the Dutch start-up prepares to be ready to start flight tests in 2028.