SD-05 Prototype Air Taxi Flies In Osaka SkyDrive has successfully flown its SD-05 prototype eVTOL air taxi in Osaka, Japan at a public event. It occurred at a media event prior to the commencement of the 2025 World Expo. The World Expo 2025 is an event that started on April 13th and will run all the way through to October 13th. As for the demonstration flight, that endured less than 5 minutes and only went to an approximate altitude of 5-meters. The SD-05 was also uncrewed being flown remotely at the event.
For World Expo 2025, SkyDrive was hopeful that it could have one of its craft actually flying at the event taking around persons but eVTOLs have not been certified by regulatory bodies to actively take passengers as a service and given that none were able to be certified by the World Expo they will just be relegated to carrying-out demonstration flights without passengers. Other manufacturers such as Joby Aviation and Archer are expected to carry out demonstrations at the 6 month long World Expo.
SkyDrive became the first company in Japan to conduct public demonstrations with an eVTOL and this was back in 2020. “SkyDrive’s story in Osaka will continue after the Expo,” SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa said. “Last year, Osaka Metro Co., Ltd and SkyDrive announced plans for the ‘Osaka Diamond Routes,’ proposed eVTOL routes connecting four key Osaka destinations: Shin-Osaka/Umeda, Morinomiya, Tennoji/Abeno, and the Osaka Bay Area. Similar initiatives for the post-Expo period are underway throughout Japan.”
SkyDrive has been moving ahead with testing and intends to secure U.S. approval for the craft via the FAA’s validation of the Japanese type certificate. The current timeline for this is in 2026. If you want to visit SkyDrive at the World Expo 2025, there is a full-scale mockup to be viewed and interact with. You can find them at the Advanced Air Mobility Station in the 'Empowering Lives Zone P07'. For more information: SkyDrive Toyota City, Aichi, Japan www.en.skydrive2020.com ***
