SkyDrive Inc. a leading compact eVTOL (*1) aircraft developer based in Japan, announced the completion of a demonstration flight of its “SKYDRIVE” eVTOL aircraft (SkyDrive Model SD-05). The flight, held at the test site inside the Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park, western Japan, was designed to simulate a scenic touring flight over the Seto Inland Sea.
The flight, which was witnessed by Mr. Tsugumasa Muraoka, Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mr. Toru Kawano, Vice Chairperson of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly, and Mr. Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive’s official production partner, provided further confirmation of the aircraft’s technical maturity and the potential use of eVTOL for scenic tourist flights.
Demonstration Flight Details
The demonstration flight, which was flown without passengers or crew, simulated the future operational flows SkyDrive will use to provide tourist flights once SkyDrive’s aircraft is in service. Alongside the actual flight of the remotely piloted aircraft, the simulation included a run through of a seamless passenger journey conveying passengers arriving by car at the vertiport (takeoff and landing facility) straight to their eVTOL flight.
First Flight
- Date & Time: Around 8:00 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026
- Operation Mode: Autonomous control and remote piloting without a pilot on board
- Flight Results: Flight distance: 2 km (approx. 1.24 miles) / Flight time: 6 min 20 sec / Maximum speed: 86 km/h (approx. 53.4 mph) / Maximum altitude: 30 m (approx. 98.4 ft.)
Second Flight
- Date & Time: Around 11:05 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026
- Operation Mode: Autonomous control and remote piloting without a pilot on board
- Flight Results: Flight distance: 1900 m (approx. 1.18 miles) / Flight time: 5 min 42 sec / Maximum speed: 54km/h (34 mph) / Maximum altitude: 25m (82 ft)
Background and Objectives
SkyDrive is developing a compact eVTOL with the mission of “leading the once-in-a century mobility revolution” that will establish eVTOLs as a feasible option for intra-urban transportation and a regular feature of city life. To date, SkyDrive has flown its prototype aircraft more than 300 times in various environments, including flight test sites in Toyota City (Aichi Prefecture) and Yamaguchi City (Yamaguchi Prefecture), as well as at the Expo 2025 Osaka venue, Osaka Port, and, most recently, at Tokyo Big Sight in February 2026.
