SkyDrive ⁢eVTOL Achieves First Flight⁢ at Osaka Expo 2025

OSAKA, Japan (April 15, 2025) – SkyDrive, a Japanese electric aircraft manufacturer specializing in vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, successfully completed the ⁤inaugural demonstration flight of its three-seater eVTOL on April 9 at ⁣the Expo 2025 site in Osaka.

Thales ⁣Flight Control System Ensures Safety

The SkyDrive eVTOL relies on a new generation flight control system too ensure safe operation. the system, drawing on over 40 years of flight control solution experience, is specifically adapted for unmanned aircraft, emphasizing autonomy, lightness, and compactness.

designed for intra-urban flights, the SkyDrive eVTOL requires flight control solutions that can guarantee flight trajectory safety over populated areas. The flight⁣ control system is critical for flight safety, calculating and adjusting ⁣the position of the aircraft’s control surfaces and managing engine ⁣thrust.

Thales ⁣pioneered electric flight controls 40 years ago with its initial⁣ installation on⁢ the Airbus A310.Since ‍then, more than 13,000 aircraft have been equipped‍ with Thales⁢ solutions.

“The first flight from SkyDrive to Osaka marks a historic stage for autonomous air mobility,” said Florent Chauvancy, vice president of flight aircraft⁤ activities. “We are proud ⁤to be associated with this adventure alongside SkyDrive and to contribute with FlyTrise to make thefts ever⁤ safer and more sustainable.”

Expo 2025 Osaka: Designing the Future

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, opened April 13 and runs through Oct. 13. The large-scale universal exhibition takes place on the artificial island of yumieshima in Osaka Bay.

Under the theme of “Designing the Society of the Future, Imagining Our Life of Tomorrow,” the expo invites global collaboration on innovative solutions to worldwide challenges. The 155-hectare site expects⁣ to host approximately 28 million visitors‍ during its six-month run.

Expo Sub-Themes

the ⁤central theme is divided into three interconnected sub-themes:

• “Saving Lives”: focuses on ⁢health, medicine, and well-being.
• “Giving Power to Lives”: highlights education, employment, and reducing inequalities.
• “Connecting Lives”: Explores dialog, collaboration, and new technologies.

These sub-themes‍ are showcased in the pavilions of over 150 participating countries and organizations, as well as in unique thematic ⁣pavilions designed by ⁤renowned producers.

Yumeshima Island Infrastructure

Yumeshima Island was specifically developed for the exhibition, featuring a central “large ring” connecting different areas and pavilions. The landscaping incorporates water and ‍greenery, symbolizing harmony with nature.Accessibility to the site has been improved ‍with the extension of the chuo metro line to the new Yumeshima station.