en.Wedoany.com Reported - SkyDrive completed a demonstration flight of its SKYDRIVE (Model SD-05) eVTOL aircraft on July 13, 2026, at the Yamaguchi Kirara Expo Memorial Park in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The flight simulated sightseeing operations over the Seto Inland Sea, conducted via remote control with no passengers or crew on board. The first flight covered approximately 2 kilometers in 6 minutes and 20 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 86 km/h at an altitude of 30 meters. The second flight covered 1.9 kilometers in 5 minutes and 42 seconds, with a maximum speed of 54 km/h at an altitude of 25 meters.
Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka, Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly Vice Chairman Toru Kono, and SkyDrive's production partner Suzuki Motor Corporation President Toshihiro Suzuki observed the demonstration.
SkyDrive aims to integrate eVTOL into the tourism experience, enabling a seamless transition from ground transportation to aerial sightseeing. The tests included simulating the entire process of passengers arriving by car at the vertiport and departing. The company sees potential for eVTOL in tourism, alleviating urban congestion, disaster response, and emergency medical services.
SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa stated that this flight marks a new milestone building on previous tests at Expo 2025, Osaka Port, and Tokyo Big Sight. He emphasized that safety is the top priority while advancing toward the goal of commercial operations in 2028. Fukuzawa expressed pride and delight in successfully completing the demonstration flight in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which was recorded and released in clips showcasing the convenience of transferring from a car to the eVTOL aircraft. He noted that the simulation demonstrated passengers arriving by road, achieving a seamless, zero-wait transition from road transportation to eVTOL, a model that highlights the potential of next-generation urban air mobility in promoting tourism. SkyDrive looks forward to collaborating with railway company partners to achieve seamless integration of road and rail travel with eVTOL takeoffs.
