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Israeli start-up Air has revealed the first production model of its Air One Cargo eVTOL aircraft and delivered it to an undisclosed launch customer, the company announced on December 17. Before it enters service, the aircraft will make its first flights at a test site in southern Israel.
According to Air, this customer had already accepted delivery of a pre-production prototype in late 2023, and data from nearly two years of early deployment informed the design of the ultimate production configuration. The customer has been using the prototype for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, including nighttime BVLOS flights, as well as remote resupply missions in “challenging” environments, the manufacturer said.
“This production model represents years of engineering refinement and collaboration with industry leaders, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies,” commented Air co-founder and CEO Rani Plaut. “We’ve moved beyond proof of concept to proven performance and commercial deployment, supported by vital partnerships. We look forward to continuing to deliver on the promise of transforming how cargo moves around the world.”
The Air One Cargo is a new uncrewed variant of the piloted, two-seat Air One personal eVTOL aircraft, which the company expects to be approved under the FAA’s new Mosaic special airworthiness rules for light sport aircraft in 2026. Both versions have a 550-pound payload capacity, a flight endurance of one hour with a full charge, and a top speed of 135 knots.
In September, the FAA issued an experimental airworthiness certificate for the Air One range of piloted and uncrewed aircraft, clearing the way for the Israeli firm to expand flight testing activities at a new facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.
A few weeks later, the company’s uncrewed Air One prototype crashed during a test flight from that facility, prompting an NTSB investigation that is still ongoing. Despite the accident, Air said it remains on track to certify and begin delivering the piloted two-seater to U.S. customers in 2026. The company claims to have a backlog of more than 2,900 Air One personal eVTOL aircraft.
