Eve Air Mobility, a company dedicated to developing urban air mobility (UAM) solutions including an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has successfully completed the first flight of its uncrewed full-scale eVTOL prototype. The flight took place at Embraer’s test facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo state, Brazil.
The inaugural flight marks the beginning of Eve’s flight test phase and confirms the integration of key systems, including the fifth-generation fly-by-wire concept and fixed-pitch lifter rotors. Following this hover flight, the company will perform multiple flights throughout 2026, gradually expanding the envelope to achieve full wingborne transitions.
“Today, Eve flew. This is a historical milestone for our employees, customers, investors, and the entire ecosystem,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “This flight validates our plan, executed with precision to deliver the best solution for the market. We captured high-fidelity data that allows us to move forward with safety and confidence on the certification path.”
Eve will manufacture six conforming prototypes for the flight test campaign, aiming for certification. The company continues to engage with Brazil’s Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), its primary certifying authority, as well as the FAA and EASA. Eve expects type certification, first deliveries, and entry into service in 2027.
Luiz Valentini, Chief Technology Officer at Eve, added: “We exercised our control laws, verified integration of the eight lifters, and assessed energy management, dynamic response, and noise footprint. The prototype behaved as predicted. We will expand the envelope and progress toward wingborne flight in a disciplined manner, ramping up to hundreds of flights throughout 2026.”
Jorge Bittercourt, Chief Product Officer, noted: “This flight gives the product a clear green light to advance reliability, efficiency, and simplicity. We validated critical elements from lifter architecture to flight mechanics, and now we move into the flight test phase to advance product maturity.”
Eve leverages Embraer’s 56 years of aerospace expertise in designing, certifying, manufacturing, and delivering state-of-the-art aircraft, along with its global aftermarket service footprint.
