Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

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Hanneke Weitering

Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive has selected Stirling Dynamics to provide the pilot control stick for its three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft.
Stirling Dynamics is a UK-based engineering firm owned by global technology consultancy Expleo Group. The company has more than 35 years of experience developing systems for various aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin F-35, Airbus and Boeing airliners, Bombardier’s C-Series and Global 7000/8000 business jets, and Leonardo’s helicopters.
Vertical Aerospace, which is also based in the UK, recently selected Stirling Dynamics to provide <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-04-05/stirling-dynamics-joins-hanwha-developing-actuators-verticals-vx4-evtol">electromechanical actuators</a> for its four-passenger VX4 eVTOL aircraft.
SkyDrive’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry two passengers plus one pilot on short flights of 15 to 40 kilometers at a cruising speed of 100 kph (54 knots). The company is working to certify the aircraft in Japan as well as in the U.S., where it has a subsidiary in South Carolina, and hopes to enter service in 2026. It also holds orders and preliminary sales agreements with customers in <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-28/dubai-helicopter-operator-and-skydrive-plan-evtol-tourist">Dubai</a>, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-07-21/skydrive-reports-more-provisional-evtol-aircraft-sales-vietnam-and-south">Vietnam</a>, <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-09-18/korean-leasing-group-plans-add-skydrive-evtol-vehicle-portfolio">Korea</a>, and <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-05-09/skydrive-plans-aeromedical-evtol-flights-taiwans-penghu">Taiwan</a>.
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau approved SkyDrive’s <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-11/japanese-regulator-confirms-certification-basis-skydrive">G-1 certification basis</a> in February. SkyDrive made the first public flight demonstration with the SD-05 prototype in April <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-04-10/skydrive-flies-evtol-air-taxi-prototype-osaka">at the Osaka World Expo</a>.
“As we pioneer the future of urban air mobility, having a partner with deep expertise in active control inceptors and human-machine interaction is critical,” said SkyDrive chief development officer Arnaud Coville. “Stirling Dynamics’ experience in supplying pilot-centric solutions aligns perfectly with our goal of creating a flight control experience that is intuitive, responsive, and safe.”
In 2023, SkyDrive announced it had selected Thales’ FlytRise flight control system and <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-08-02/avidyne-conceived-quantum-avionics-advanced-air-mobility-mind">Avidyne’s Quantum</a> open avionics platform for the fly-by-wire SD-05 eVTOL aircraft.

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Stirling Dynamics To Supply SkyDrive’s eVTOL Pilot Control Sticks

Stirling will make custom active control inceptors for the fly-by-wire aircraft

Japanese eVTOL developer SkyDrive has selected Stirling Dynamics to provide the pilot control stick for its three-seat SD-05 eVTOL aircraft.

SkyDrive Picks Stirling Dynamics To Supply eVTOL Pilot Control Sticks

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