The first of seven Lilium eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) jet fuselages has gone into production in Valladolid, Spain.
The German eVTOL jet developer, confirmed on September 19, 2023, this is the first of seven fuselages for the seven aircraft Lilium will use to achieve type-certification of its aircraft.
The company said it has “achieved a significant development milestone” and remains on track for the expected first manned flight planned in late 2024.
The start of fuselage assembly “serves as another tangible manifestation of Lilium’s strategic roadmap, demonstrating Lilium’s ability to progress from vision to execution”.
“We’re delighted to kick off assembly of the first Lilium Jet fuselage at Aciturri, bringing us one step closer to reshaping sustainable regional air mobility. We see this as further evidence that our approach of teaming with proven aerospace suppliers to bring our cutting edge eVTOL aircraft to market is the optimal strategy as we advance along a path to certification and entry into service of the Lilium Jet,” Yves Yemsi, COO of Lilium, said.
The fuselage was developed in collaboration with, and is being built by, tier one aerospace supplier and strategic partner Aciturri at its facilities.
The fuselage is planned for delivery to Lilium facilities in Wessling, Germany in the fourth quarter 2023, prior to planned start of assembly of the first Lilium Jet by year end.
“This phase is more than just a technical step – it’s a clear signal to all Lilium stakeholders of our commitment to making regional air mobility more efficient, enjoyable, and sustainable. As we assemble the fuselage, we are also crafting a transformative flying experience while upholding our promise of unparalleled efficiency, comfort, and safety,” Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium, said.
Aciturri, who is a Lilium investor, is an established aerospace supplier with nearly 50 years of experience in commercial aircraft programs, including the design and manufacturing of major airframe components for Airbus A350, A320, A400M, Boeing 787 and Embraer KC390 programs, amongst others.
“Aciturri is committed to playing a leading role in the transformation of sustainable regional air mobility, which supports Europe’s goal of achieving climate neutrality. We are fully aligned with Lilium’s vision and design, and we are delighted to have evolved our partnership to such a foundational stage towards the birth of the Lilium Jet,” Maria Eugenia Clemente, CEO of Aciturri Aerostructures, commented.
Lilium is pursuing concurrent certification of the 7-Seater Lilium Jet with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the FAA.