In a significant milestone the electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer Lilium has successfully powered on its first in-production Lilium Jet.
The first Lilium Jet, MSN 1, will be used exclusively for ground testing to confirm safety for the first piloted flight scheduled for early 2025 with MSN 2, which itself is currently in final assembly.
This power-on test “confirms that the aircraft is being built in accordance with Lilium’s platform design and the flight systems are functioning correctly,” the developer said on October 1, 2024.
Lilium has already accomplished test flights with previous demonstrator aircraft such as Phoenix 3 in 2022, but the latest Lilium Jet aircraft are fully functional, to scale and will be used as part of the type certification program.
During the successful power-on 900 volts were applied to the eVTOL aircraft’s electrical and avionics systems which includes cockpit display, flight controls, communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.
“Power-on is an important quality gate in the production process of any commercial aircraft. The two Lilium Jets now on our final assembly line, and those to come, will be conforming aircraft, built to the specifications of our design organization, according to documented processes and in line with established aerospace procedures. When it comes to aircraft production, process control, repeatability, traceability, and above all safety is paramount. Achieving this first power-on milestone demonstrates that we’re on track,” said Stephen Vellacott, Lilium’s CTO.
MSN 1, also known as Ironbird, will be used to prove safety of flight and compliance with airworthiness requirements, MSN 2 will carry the first pilot and production of the MSN 3 fuselage is currently underway.
Lilium intends to fly a total of six test aircraft up to type-certification and entry into service, targeted for 2026.
In August 2024, Lilium successfully completed the first phase of electrical integration testing at the company’s dedicated electrical power system lab (EPSL).
The test rig replicates the Lilium Jet’s full powertrain, from battery pack to engine, outside the aircraft in a controlled test environment.
So far Lilium has successfully tested several core electrical functionalities at the EPSL, including high voltage distribution, low voltage conversion and distribution, health reporting, and charging systems.
Last week the Lilium Jet made its US debut at operator Galaxy FBO’s Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) hangar.
Thank you #Houston! Last week the #Lilium #Jet made history with its U.S. debut at Houston Hobby Airport. A sincere thank you to everyone that attended and to @GalaxyFBO and #EMCJET for hosting and organizing the first showcase of the Lilium Jet in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/sXUgPMYji0
— Lilium (@Lilium) September 30, 2024
Galaxy FBO is partnering with Lilium to provide regional connectivity in the area, with routes between Houston Hobby Airport to Galveston, Houston Spaceport to College Station, The Woodlands to Galveston amongst those currently at the planning stage.
Additionally, Lilium has reached an agreement with EMCJET, an aircraft brokerage and management company, for the Houston-based firm to be among the first round of customers when deliveries of the eVTOL aircraft begin in 2026.