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The Airframer Bulletin

Airframer · SkyDrive · SkyDrive Inc.
All news ✕ Clear ‹ Current edition

Every Bulletin story and press release covering Airframer · SkyDrive · SkyDrive Inc., newest first.

25 items

2026
24 June

ReleaseSkyDrive reaches 100km/h milestone

20 April

ReleaseSkyDrive becomes Japan's first eVTOL developer to earn “Approved Design Organization” (ADO) certification

9 March

ReleaseSkyDrive reaches agreement with Japan’s Civil Aviation Authority on its General Certification Plan, a core element of the type certification process

23 January

ReleaseSkyDrive partners with SASMOS for EWIS design and manufacturing for SkyDrive SD-05 production aircraft

2025
4 September From left: Arnaud Coville, Chief Development Officer of SkyDrive and Vincent Duqueine, President of DUC Hélices Propellers

SkyDrive collaborates with DUC Helices to develop SD-05 rotors

The Japanese eVTOL manufacturer will work with the French propeller specialist on flight-critical rotors for its SD-05, accelerating testing progress and supporting certification efforts.

4 July

ReleaseSkyDrive secures ¥8.3 billion in Pre-Series D funding from Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu, and others

20 June

ReleaseSkyDrive partners with Stirling Dynamics to design and manufacture Pilot Control Stick for SkyDrive SD-05 production aircraft

10 February

ReleaseJCAB issues G-1 certification basis for SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft

2024
24 September

ReleaseSkyDrive and Braid Technologies collaborate on advanced aeronautic engineering project through AI

29 August

ReleaseSkyDrive raises approximately 8 billion yen in total in additional Series C funding to accelerate its eVTOL development and manufacturing

20 June Nobuo Kishi, Chief Technology Officer, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, Chief Executive Officer, and Arnaud Coville, Chief Development Officer of SkyDrive

FAA accepts SkyDrive's eVTOL certification application

To prepare for its entry into the U.S. market and commercial operations, SkyDrive established a local subsidiary in 2023. The Japanese company says it is now actively collaborating with local customers.

14 March Staff in Iwata-city, Shizuoka, mark the occasion.

SkyDrive begins production of eVTOL aircraft with Suzuki

The establishment of Sky Works Inc., its manufacturing arm, and the partnership with Suzuki are significant steps towards producing up to 100 eVTOLs per year.

2023
18 October

ReleaseSkyDrive selected for innovation grant worth up to 12.4 billion yen by Japanese government

10 October

ReleaseSkyDrive established a production subsidiary in Iwata City to produce up to 100 eVTOLs per year utilizing Suzuki's plant

6 September

ReleaseSkyDrive signed an agreement with JAXA for joint research towards future noise reduction for eVTOL

21 June Hidetoshi Kumashiro, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager, Suzuki and Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO, SkyDrive.

Japanese eVTOL developer harnesses Suzuki production facility

SkyDrive will establish a wholly owned subsidiary which will use a production facility owned by the Suzuki Group in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and aims to start building the Skydrive eVTOL by spring 2024.

19 June

ReleaseChanges to specification of SkyDrive's eVTOL aircraft

13 April

ReleaseSkyDrive accepts pre-orders from private individuals

2022
26 September

ReleaseSkyDrive unveils SD-05 flying car design

18 July

ReleaseSkyDrive Inc. selected Electric Power Systems, Inc to provide EPiC battery system for production aircraft

27 April

ReleaseSkyDrive and MLIT Agree on Basis for Flying Car Type Certification

22 March

ReleaseSkyDrive and Suzuki to collaborate on business and technology of flying cars

2021
1 November

ReleaseSkyDrive hits new milestone as MLIT accepts application for flying car type certificate

2020
9 September Skydrive has successfully completed a manned flight of its eVTOL, model SD-03.

SkyDrive's SD-03 makes first public manned flight

A four minute hop with a computer-aided pilot onboard has taken the SkyDrive program past a major development milestone. The company says it has created a flying coupe with dreams and charisma.

2019
19 March

ReleaseCARTIVATOR starts outdoor flight test!