FutureFlight
Tetra Personal eVTOL Prototype Starts Test Flights As Customers Commit
The Japanese start-up unveiled its Mk 5 eVTOL aircraft at July's EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and has stayed in the U.S. for flight testing.
Tetra Aviation Mk 5
Tetra Aviation has started taking initial commitments from prospective customers for its single-seat personal eVTOL aircraft. (Image: Tetra Aviation)

Following its public debut at last month’s EAA AirVenture show Tetra Aviation’s new Mk 5 personal eVTOL is set to do some flight testing in September. The Japanese start-up’s nine-strong team stayed in the U.S. after the event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and have moved the prototype exhibited there to Byron Airport in California.

Tetra CEO Tasuku Nakai told FutureFlight that the U.S. is a key market for the kit-built electric aircraft that it intends to certify under FAA Part 23 rules. As an interim step, it will seek to get clearance for the Mk 5 under experimental aircraft rules.