German aircraft manufacturer Lilium has completed the first phase of integration testing on its Lilium Jet electrical power system, marking another milestone in the development of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. 

The testing programme is taking place at Lilium’s dedicated laboratory near Munich, where the company can replicate the Lilium Jet powertrain in a controlled environment to collect data to be presented as part of the aircraft’s type-certification process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). 

Stephen Vellacott, chief technology officer for Lilium, said: “We have again reached a critical milestone in the Lilium Jet development. In this new lab, we test flights, charging, and simulate failure scenarios to ensure that our powertrain meets stringent aviation safety and reliability standards. 

“From first flight to certification and product launch, the lab enables us to demonstrate that our aircraft will be a world-leading product.” 

Lilium’s testing lab, developed with Italian testing company EN4, uses customised software to run pilot flight profiles during tests of the power system and gather data on the outcomes in real-time.

The announcement comes around two months after Lilium began testing its electric propulsion unit for the Lilium Jet as it leads up to the production of its first flight-ready eVTOL aircraft. 

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By extensively testing the core systems of the jet before beginning a flight test programme, Lilium is hoping to speed up certification of the vehicle and verify the design of its core powertrain functionalities under the EASA’s Special Condition for VTOL aircraft rules. 

While Lilium is one of the biggest eVTOL developers in Europe, the company’s aircraft is still much earlier in its development compared to some of the industry’s biggest players including Archer and Joby, which are both hoping to complete US certification for their eVTOL aircraft by 2026.