Rotorcraft
Honda To Fly First Full-scale eVTOL Prototype in Early 2026
Build of remotely piloted aircraft to be completed by the end of the year
Honda eVTOL at Dubai Airshow 2025
Honda plans to finish building its inaugural full-scale eVTOL prototype by the end of this year and to conduct the first flight in March 2026. © David McIntosh/AIN

Following more than 400 flights of its third-scale demonstrator, Honda is planning to fly its first full-scale eVTOL prototype in March 2026, with the build of the inaugural aircraft expected to be completed by the end of this year. The Japanese automotive group hopes to have an FAA type certificate in hand by the early 2030s.

Although Honda has been relatively secretive about its upcoming eVTOL since announcing the program in 2021, the company’s inaugural presence at the Dubai Airshow is “good timing for us to showcase the progress of our research,” said Honda eVTOL vice president and executive chief engineer Susumu Mashio.

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