Aircraft
Supernal Confirms First Flight of eVTOL Tech Demonstrator
A preliminary full-scale example of the planned S-A2 model achieved its first tethered flight on March 1
Supernal S-A2 eVTOL mockup
Supernal, which exhibited a mockup of its S-A2 eVTOL aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024, now says it has flown a technology demonstrator. © AIN/David McIntosh

Supernal has confirmed that a full-scale technology demonstrator for its planned S-A2 eVTOL aircraft made a first flight more than a month ago on March 1. The California-based company, which had not acknowledged the flight until asked about it by AIN, said that the tethered flight marked a milestone in the work to design, build, integrate, and fly a full-scale, four-passenger aircraft.

The wholly-owned subsidiary of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has said that it aims to certify the S-A2 in 2028. In March, it announced CHC Helicopter as the latest addition to its network of program partners making preparations for various advanced air mobility use cases.

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