From the 250-mile BETA ALIA to the autonomous EHang EH216-S, explore and compare every major eVTOL aircraft in development. Detailed specs, design philosophies, range capabilities, and certification status for the electric aircraft that will transform urban transportation.
An eVTOL aircraft (electric vertical take-off and landing) uses electric motors to spin several rotors or propellers, so it can take off and land straight up and down like a helicopter, then fly forward to its destination. It needs no runway, is much quieter than a helicopter and burns no fuel in flight.
More than 1,100 electric VTOL designs have been announced worldwide, according to the Vertical Flight Society. Very few are for sale or carrying paying passengers. Below are the aircraft that have actually flown, with what you can do with each one today.
Checked 3 November 2026. 2 you can buy now, 4 you can order for later delivery, 1 you can fly in as a paying passenger. Prices and dates come from the linked sources and change often.
Small aircraft sold to individuals. Most fly under ultralight or light-sport rules, which limit where and how you can fly.
YIVTOL · China
Sold through eVTOL.Travel with a written supplier quote. US buyers fly it under FAA Part 103 ultralight rules, as YIVTOL states.
Photo: YIVTOL
Jetson · Sweden / USA
Deliveries have started. 2026 and 2027 production is reported sold out; new orders are quoted for 2028.
Pivotal · USA
Sold to private flyers in the US. No pilot licence is required, but buyers must finish Pivotal's training before delivery.
Pictured: BlackFly, the Helix's predecessor. Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alef Aeronautics · USA
Early hand-built units go to selected customers first. Alef reports 3,500 pre-orders.
Pictured: prototype. Photo: Savva Beliy, CC BY 3.0
Aridge (XPeng AeroHT) · China
About 7,000 orders reported, including 600 in the Gulf. Production and deliveries planned from 2026.
Photo: Tim Wu, CC BY-SA 4.0
LIFT Aircraft · USA
Offered to public agencies, not to private buyers.
Photo: ZLEA, CC BY-SA 4.0
ASKA · USA
Pre-orders are open, but ASKA can't sell or rent it until the FAA certifies it.
Doroni Aerospace · USA
Customer deliveries targeted for 2028 under the FAA's light-sport (MOSAIC) rules.
Larger aircraft built for operators. You will book a seat, not buy the aircraft.
EHang · China
The only passenger eVTOL with type, production and operator certificates. Sightseeing flights run through operators in Guangzhou and Hefei.
Photo: David Perez, CC0
Joby Aviation · USA
Dubai passenger service targeted before the end of 2026. Not bookable yet.
Photo: Harlan Huntington, Public domain
Archer Aviation · USA
Abu Dhabi service targeted for late 2026 to early 2027. Not bookable yet.
BETA Technologies · USA
Ordered by operators, cargo and defence customers. Not yet FAA certified.
Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Bryant, Public domain
Wisk Aero (Boeing) · USA
In development. No public service date.
Photo: Airtaxis2030, CC BY-SA 4.0
Electra.aero · USA
FAA certification started in December 2025. Operators such as Bristow hold delivery slots.
Eve Air Mobility (Embraer) · Brazil
In certification with Brazil's ANAC. No passenger service yet.
Photo: Lula Oficial, CC BY-SA 4.0
Vertical Aerospace · UK
In flight testing and certification. No passenger service yet.
Pictured: scale model. Photo: Hunini, CC BY-SA 4.0
AutoFlight · China
The cargo version (CarryAll) is type-certified in China. The passenger version is still in certification.
Pictured: CarryAll cargo version. Photo: Adil Ospantayev, CC BY 4.0
SkyDrive · Japan
Flew demonstrations at Expo 2025 Osaka. No commercial service yet.
Photo: 武田信徳, CC BY 4.0
Volocopter (Diamond Aircraft group) · Germany
Bought out of insolvency in 2025. Certification targeted for 2026 and may slip to 2027. A private VoloXPro (about €500,000) is also planned.
Photo: Leo067, CC BY 4.0
Not vertical takeoff, but fully electric and certified.
Pipistrel (Textron) · Slovenia
The first type-certified electric aeroplane (EASA, 2020). Used mainly for pilot training.
Photo: Andrejcheck, CC BY-SA 4.0
Compare the key specifications of every major eVTOL aircraft currently in development or certified for commercial operations.
| Model | Company | Type | Range | Speed | Capacity | Noise | Certification | Autonomous |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joby S4 | Joby Aviation | Tilt-Rotor | 150 mi | 200 mph | 4+1 pilot | Test conditions not reconciled | FAA work continuing (company report, Sep 10 2026) | No (future) |
| Archer Midnight | Archer Aviation | Tilt-Rotor | 60 mi | 150 mph | 4+1 pilot | Test conditions not reconciled | Phase 3 closed; Phase 4 testing (company report, May 11 2026) | No (future) |
| EHang EH216-S | EHang | Multicopter | 22 mi | 80 mph | 2 pax | Test conditions not reconciled | EH216-S TC: Oct 2023; named operator approvals: Mar 2025 | Yes (fully) |
| Wisk Cora / Gen 6 | Wisk Aero (Boeing) | Lift+Cruise | 25+ mi | 100 mph | 4 pax | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | Yes (fully) |
| Eve eVTOL | Eve Air Mobility | Lift+Cruise | 60 mi | 150 mph | 4+1 pilot | Test conditions not reconciled | ANAC criteria work / EASA application (Jul 20 2026) | No (future) |
| Volocopter VoloCity | Volocopter | Multicopter | 22 mi | 68 mph | 2 pax | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | No (future) |
| Vertical VX4 | Vertical Aerospace | Tilt-Rotor | 100 mi | 200 mph | 4+1 pilot | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | No (future) |
| BETA ALIA | BETA Technologies | Lift+Cruise (fixed-wing) | 250 mi | 170 mph | 5+1 pilot | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | No (future) |
| AutoFlight Prosperity I | AutoFlight | Lift+Cruise | 155 mi | 125 mph | 5 pax | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | No (future) |
| SkyDrive SD-05 | SkyDrive | Multicopter | 5 mi | 62 mph | 2 pax | Test conditions not reconciled | Current approval and target dates require source review | No |
Specifications based on manufacturer published data and industry reports. Performance may vary based on conditions and final certified configurations.
eVTOL aircraft come in four main design categories, each with distinct advantages and tradeoffs. Understanding these designs helps you appreciate the different approaches to urban air mobility.
Rotors tilt from vertical position for takeoff and landing to horizontal position for efficient forward cruise flight. Combines helicopter-like vertical capability with airplane-like cruise efficiency. Offers the best balance of range, speed, and hover capability.
Separate sets of propellers for vertical lift and forward cruise. Lift rotors are used only during takeoff and landing, while dedicated pusher or puller propellers provide forward thrust. Wings generate lift during cruise flight.
Multiple fixed rotors arranged around the aircraft provide both lift and limited forward thrust. Similar to a scaled-up drone. The simplest eVTOL design with the fewest moving parts and highest redundancy.
Rotors or fans can direct thrust in multiple directions through ducted fans or variable-pitch propellers. Provides VTOL capability while maintaining efficient forward flight without the mechanical complexity of tilt-rotors.
Range varies dramatically between eVTOL designs. Fixed-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft achieve the longest ranges, while multicopter designs are optimized for shorter urban trips.
Lift+Cruise (fixed-wing) — BETA Technologies
Lift+Cruise — AutoFlight
Tilt-Rotor — Joby Aviation
Tilt-Rotor — Vertical Aerospace
Tilt-Rotor — Archer Aviation
Lift+Cruise — Eve Air Mobility
Lift+Cruise — Wisk Aero (Boeing)
Multicopter — EHang
Multicopter — Volocopter
Multicopter — SkyDrive
Certification is the critical milestone that determines when each aircraft can begin carrying passengers commercially. Here is the current status of each aircraft in the certification process.
BETA Technologies
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
AutoFlight
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
Joby Aviation
Target: FAA work continuing (company report, Sep 10 2026)
Vertical Aerospace
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
Archer Aviation
Target: Phase 3 closed; Phase 4 testing (company report, May 11 2026)
Eve Air Mobility
Target: ANAC criteria work / EASA application (Jul 20 2026)
Wisk Aero (Boeing)
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
EHang
Target: EH216-S TC: Oct 2023; named operator approvals: Mar 2025
Volocopter
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
SkyDrive
Target: Current approval and target dates require source review
All eVTOL aircraft are dramatically quieter than helicopters at 95 to 100 dB. Most eVTOL designs produce noise comparable to a normal conversation, enabling operations in dense urban areas.
Common questions about eVTOL aircraft models, specifications, and technology.
The BETA ALIA has the longest range of any eVTOL aircraft currently in development at approximately 250 miles on a single charge. This is due to its fixed-wing lift-plus-cruise design, which is optimized for longer-distance regional flights rather than short urban hops. The Joby S4 follows with 150 miles of range, and the AutoFlight Prosperity I offers 155 miles. Most urban air taxi eVTOLs have ranges of 22 to 100 miles, which is more than sufficient for their intended short-distance urban and suburban routes.
The Joby S4 and Vertical VX4 are tied for the fastest eVTOL aircraft at approximately 200 mph cruise speed. Both use tilt-rotor designs that allow them to transition to efficient forward flight like an airplane. The BETA ALIA cruises at 170 mph, Archer Midnight and Eve eVTOL at 150 mph, and AutoFlight Prosperity I at 125 mph. Multicopter designs like EHang EH216-S and Volocopter VoloCity are slower at 68 to 80 mph but are designed for short urban trips where speed matters less than efficiency and simplicity.
A tilt-rotor eVTOL like the Joby S4 uses the same rotors for both vertical takeoff and forward flight by physically tilting them from vertical to horizontal. A lift-plus-cruise eVTOL like the BETA ALIA has separate dedicated rotors for vertical lift and separate propellers for forward cruise, with wings providing lift during forward flight. Tilt-rotors are generally more efficient since all motors are used throughout the flight, while lift-plus-cruise designs are mechanically simpler since the rotors do not need to tilt.
The EH216-S operates without an onboard pilot. Its design approval dates to October 2023; named operator approvals were announced in March 2025. Wisk is developing autonomous passenger aircraft. An autonomy roadmap is not proof of service approval, and absence of an onboard pilot does not by itself prove superior safety.
eVTOL aircraft produce noise levels of approximately 60 to 70 decibels, which is comparable to a normal conversation or moderate traffic. This is dramatically quieter than helicopters at 95 to 100 decibels. The 30 to 35 dB difference represents a perception of being roughly 8 to 10 times quieter. The BETA ALIA is the quietest at approximately 60 dB due to its fixed-wing cruise configuration. This low noise profile is critical because it allows eVTOLs to operate in dense urban areas where helicopters are restricted due to noise ordinances.
Passenger capacity varies by design. Smaller multicopter designs like the EHang EH216-S, Volocopter VoloCity, and SkyDrive SD-05 carry 2 passengers. Most tilt-rotor and lift-plus-cruise designs carry 4 passengers plus 1 pilot, including the Joby S4, Archer Midnight, Eve eVTOL, and Vertical VX4. The BETA ALIA carries 5 passengers plus 1 pilot, and the AutoFlight Prosperity I carries 5 passengers. Future larger eVTOL aircraft may carry 6 to 9 passengers for regional routes.
The EH216-S received its CAAC type certificate in October 2023. EHang announced certificates for two named operators in March 2025. Joby's September 2026 release describes continuing FAA certification work. A type certificate is distinct from production approval, individual aircraft airworthiness and operator permissions; consult dated evidence rather than old target years.
eVTOL range is primarily determined by three factors: battery energy density measured in watt-hours per kilogram, aircraft design efficiency particularly whether it has wings for cruise lift, and total battery weight relative to aircraft weight. Fixed-wing designs like BETA ALIA achieve longer ranges because wings provide lift during cruise flight, reducing battery consumption. Multicopter designs have shorter ranges because the rotors must provide all lift throughout the flight. Battery technology improvements of 5 to 10 percent annually are gradually increasing range for all eVTOL types.
Currently, eVTOL aircraft are primarily being sold to operators, fleet companies, and government entities rather than individual buyers. EHang sells the EH216-S for approximately $410,000 primarily to tourism and transportation operators. As the market matures, individual purchase options may become available, similar to how you can buy a small airplane today. Prices are expected to range from $300,000 to $4 million depending on the aircraft model, with costs decreasing significantly as manufacturing scales up.
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