3 July 2025
VIDEO There’s a new name in the growing world of electric air taxis, FlyNow, and it’s taking a rather different technology route. Instead of multiple mini-rotors and/or complex tilt-rotors, FlyNow is more like a conventional helicopter with coaxial main rotors.
The advantage is that counter-rotating main rotors eliminate the torque reaction developed by a single main rotor which has to be balanced with a tail rotor, adding complexity, cost and a drain on power.
FlyNow Aviation has just achieved a significant milestone in the development of its modular eCopter family: the first untethered test flights.
The Austrian project has been underway since 2019, making its first flights of a scale model in 2021 but it is now flying a full-size prototype.
“Starting in 2023, we conducted extensive flight testing at Salzburg Airport (LOWS), where safety regulations require tethered operations due to nearby air traffic and infrastructure,” said Yvonne Winter, co-founder and COO of FlyNow Aviation GmbH.
“These tethered flights were crucial for system validation and allowed us to collect valuable data and train the flight control computer.
“We have now successfully transitioned to untethered flight testing at our newly secured test site in eastern Austria.
“With this free flight, we’ve shown that FlyNow is ready to lift urban mobility off the ground. We focus on reducing complexity and maximizing safety — principles that are essential for scalable, sustainable air transport.”
FlyNow Aviation’s plan includes one and two person air taxis – pods, really – but only after at least 1m kilometres of cargo flights
FlyNow’s eCopter family includes a one- and two-seater for personal transportation, a cargo version with a 200kg payload capable of carrying a standard Euro pallet, as well as dedicated firefighting and rescue models.
The company’s development plan includes launching commercial cargo operations by 2027 – and only after accumulating over 1 million kilometres with the cargo version, will passenger flights follow.
