- The Axe VCA (Vertically-Capable Aircraft) has conducted its first flights between airfields, flying from Turweston to Bicester in the UK.
- It marks the first time in Europe that an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft has flown between two airfields.
- The Axe is now being readied for its trip to the United States, where it will appear at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Skyfly Technologies has taken a bold leap into the future of flight, announcing the successful completion of Europe’s first airfield-to-airfield flight of a fully electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The milestone flight was performed over the weekend by Skyfly’s Chief Technical Officer and test pilot, Dr William Brooks, who piloted the Axe prototype – classified as a “Vertically Capable Aircraft” – from Turweston Aerodrome in Northamptonshire to Bicester Airfield in Oxfordshire, and back again.
This historic round-trip flight marks the conclusion of the conventional phase of Skyfly’s test programme, which has thus far focused on validating the aircraft’s airframe and control systems in wing-borne flight. The flight also demonstrates the Axe’s capability: the aircraft can take off and land both vertically and conventionally, offering a wide range of use cases and unparalleled flexibility in operations.
“The aircraft performed very well. It has a gentle feel in turbulence, giving the impression of more span because of the motor masses at the tips. The comfort, outstanding view and lack of noise make for enjoyable flying.”
– Dr William Brooks, Chief Technical Officer, Skyfly
The outbound leg of 10nm took 12 minutes cruising at the lowest cruise power setting of around 57kw. The maximum speed was 71kt. The return trip took 8 minutes.
Upon returning to Turweston, the aircraft climbed to 3,500ft to conduct aerial photography and drain the batteries to a safe transport state of charge ahead of the Axe’s upcoming trip to the United States.
The weekend’s flight represents a major step forward – not just for Skyfly, but for British and European aviation. The programme has progressed with remarkable consistency, and while some aerodynamic aspects of the canard wing have been refined, the fundamental design has proven solid from day one, meeting or exceeding all expectations.
Following successful hover tests in 2024, Skyfly was permitted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority to proceed under e-conditions with conventional fixed wing flying, and subsequently to conduct airborne transitions between vertical and wing-borne flight – an essential step for commercial eVTOL operations. With that regulatory milestone achieved, Skyfly’s development programme will now shift to testing the full transition phase.
Skyfly is concurrently building its next Axe prototype, which will conform to the final production design. The Axe features eight electric motors – two on each wingtip enclosed in a single nacelle – powered by high-capacity lithium batteries housed within the fuselage. These batteries are swappable and removable for convenient charging.
Built to certified aircraft standards but offered under the UK’s Permit to Fly category and the US Experimental category, the Axe balances high-end engineering with affordability, reducing both operational and purchase costs for owners.
With 40 units sold to date, Skyfly is targeting the end of Q2 2026 for its first customer deliveries.
Next on the company’s agenda is a public showcase of the Axe prototype at the world’s largest general aviation event, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, taking place 21–27 July 2025 in Wisconsin, USA. The show attracts over 500,000 visitors and 10,000 aircraft each year.
“I’m incredibly excited to take our aircraft to Oshkosh. It’s a milestone moment for Skyfly, and we’re proud to be flying the Axe into the show, assuming we receive our experimental permit in time. Demonstrating the aircraft in flight, not just as a static display, will show the world just how far we’ve come.”
– Michael Thompson, CEO, Skyfly
The Axe is available to pre-order via the website: www.skyflytech.com/order.
Visit www.skyfly.aero for more information.
Further images are available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rRcNbAWFJPv-AK1vj9SE0XB4_3slNEgM?usp=sharing
