Lilium heads to Spain and begins next phase of flight testing with fifth generation demonstrator
Lilium has begun the next phase of flight testing in Spain with its fifth generation technology demonstrator, Phoenix 2.
Over the coming months at the ATLAS Flight Test Centre, located in Villacarrillo, southern Spain, Lilium plans to extend the flight envelope through full transition and high-speed flight. These developments come after successful flight testing with the same aircraft in southern Germany last year.
Lilium also plans to introduce an additional demonstrator aircraft, Phoenix 3, which is scheduled to arrive in Spain for the first flight this summer. This aircraft is expected to significantly accelerate the flight test campaign, allowing Lilium to increase learnings and reduce program risks.
Together with excellent weather conditions, the ATLAS Flight Test Center provides optimal infrastructure and enables aircraft to fly over a large, unpopulated area while transitioning fully to high-speed wing-borne flight.
The modern facilities and support from the Andalusian Foundation for Aerospace Development (“FADA”) and Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (“CATEC”) have been instrumental in setting Lilium up for a successful flight test campaign.
Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder and CEO of Lilium said: “We are excited to have kicked off our next phase of flight testing in Spain. This step takes us even closer to reaching our goal of creating a sustainable and accessible mode of high-speed, low noise regional air mobility.”
Last month, NetJets, the world’s largest private aviation company and aviation training firm FlightSafety International signed a MoU with Lilium for the right to purchase up to 150 eVTOL aircraft.
The arrangement will introduce more options to NetJets owners to complement their existing flight patterns, with the company anticipating to support Lilium with a private sales campaign for individuals to purchase the Lilium Jet.
In October 2021, Stuttgart Airport was expected to become a hub for regional electric flights with zero operating emissions after announcing an agreement with Lilium.
The hub is joining the planned southern German network, which already consists of Munich and Nuremberg airports.