Overview
- SkyDrive remotely operated its three-seat SD-05 prototype for two roughly six-minute flights that each covered about 2 kilometres over the Seto Inland Sea and reached a top speed of 86 km/h.
- The July demonstrations follow earlier track milestones, including a reported stable flight at 100 km/h in June, and are presented as incremental checks on the aircraft’s speed, range and control.
- SkyDrive is positioning scenic tourist trips as the near-term commercial use and staged a mock passenger journey from road arrival to eVTOL departure to test how ground and air links would work.
- The company is working with Suzuki to produce the SD-05 and has logged more than 300 prototype flights across test sites, while also engaging aviation authorities on certification and standards.
- Regulators, vertiport infrastructure and full certification remain the key hurdles before passenger service can start, so observers should watch for official certification steps and factory production timelines next.