Hermeus has pushed its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 past the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.21 during its third test flight at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The Atlanta-based company announced the milestone on May 25, describing it as the first supersonic flight by a privately developed uncrewed aircraft. 

Pilatus Aircraft launched a 32-month study to investigate whether carbon fiber production waste can be recycled directly back into the aircraft construction process. The Swiss aircraft manufacturer produces more than six tonnes of carbon fiber waste annually from cutting “prepreg” material—carbon fiber web pre-impregnated with synthetic resin—during component production. 

Eve Air Mobility has closed out a key phase of its eVTOL flight test campaign, accumulating 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 33 seconds of flight time across 59 flights at Embraer’s test facility in Brazil. Hover and low-speed flights focused on validating control laws, aerodynamic and load models, and propulsion performance at ground speeds of up to 20 knots.

Evio has teamed with battery maker Molicel to develop lithium-ion cells for its planned 76-seat hybrid-electric regional airliner, the Evio 810. The development agreement calls for cells designed to exceed the energy density of batteries currently available in commercial aerospace and to meet the performance, safety, and certification requirements of a Part 25 aircraft.

GE Aerospace has developed a foam wash process that can prevent and reverse damage caused to engines by operations in challenging environments that can accelerate the degradation of parts. It also found that cleaner turbofans burn less fuel.

Kazakhstan’s Alatau Advance Air Group (AAAG) is expanding its plans to operate eVTOL aircraft made by Chinese start-up AutoFlight. On May 20, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the sale of 50 aircraft, including a mix of AutoFlight’s V2000 and V5000 models.

Rhode Island-based Regent Craft has demonstrated that its Seaglider family of electric and hybrid-electric wing-in-ground-effect maritime vessels can recharge in locations without traditional grid infrastructure, a capability the company says could expand operational range for commercial operators and defense customers.