Eve 100 eVTOL Prepares for Low-Speed Transition Flight Testing

Eve Air Mobility is preparing to reach another key milestone in the development of its Eve 100 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with its first low-speed transition flight expected within the coming weeks.

The company aims to conduct the maneuver shortly before the Farnborough International Airshow in July. The test will mark the aircraft's first airborne transition between vertical and forward flight modes at speeds of up to 50 knots. A higher-speed transition flight at approximately 90 knots is planned later this year.

Since flight testing began in December 2025, Eve's full-scale uncrewed prototype has completed 59 flights, accumulating 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 33 seconds of flight time. The aircraft is currently undergoing preparations before entering the next phase of its flight test campaign.

Following the low-speed transition, Eve plans to further expand the aircraft's flight envelope with a full transition test scheduled for the third quarter. Company officials say the current demonstrator is already close to a certification-conforming prototype being developed in collaboration with Brazil's civil aviation regulator, ANAC, although several refinements are still expected before a fully conforming aircraft is produced.

The engineering prototype is expected to complete up to 130 flights and accumulate approximately 10 flight hours during the test program. Its current battery system limits endurance to around seven minutes per flight.

Future test aircraft will incorporate upgraded battery technology supplied by BAE Systems, enabling longer flight durations and improved range. As certification activities progress, Eve plans to introduce increasingly mature battery systems, with the goal of achieving a range of approximately 85 kilometers (46 nautical miles), including required energy reserves.

Looking ahead, Eve expects the first of five crewed test aircraft to make its maiden flight around July 2027. The aircraft will be assembled at Embraer's Ozires Silva facility before being transported to the company's Gavião Peixoto site for final integration and testing.

The program continues to benefit from significant support across Embraer, with roughly 800 engineers contributing to the development effort. Eve expects to complete its flight test campaign during the second half of 2028, paving the way for certification by ANAC and validation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later that year.

The company has also applied for certification with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with European approval expected 12 to 15 months after receiving ANAC certification and FAA validation.

While hybrid-electric propulsion remains an area of interest across the advanced air mobility sector, Eve is currently focused on its all-electric aircraft roadmap and has no immediate plans to pursue a hybrid-powered version of the Eve 100.