Lilium GmbH, a German aerospace company founded in 2015, operates at the forefront of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry. Its mission is to transform urban and regional air mobility by providing sustainable, high-speed transportation solutions. Lilium’s innovative approach aims to address challenges in modern travel, making air mobility more accessible and efficient.
Advancements in Aircraft Development
The Lilium Jet features a unique fixed-wing design with 36 ducted electric jet engines, which are integrated into its wings and canards. This design, emphasizing simplicity, avoids complex mechanisms like folding propellers or tilting wings, contributing to lower manufacturing and maintenance costs and increased safety. The ducted fans are enclosed in nacelles, allowing the propulsion system to be referred to as a “jet.”
Flight testing has progressed through various prototypes. The first full-scale, two-seat “Eagle” prototype completed unmanned test flights in April 2017, followed by a five-seat prototype, the Phoenix, which first flew in May 2019. Testing has demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to transition from vertical to horizontal flight and perform maneuvers like banked turns and hover turns. The current seven-seat production model is designed to carry one pilot and six passengers.
The Lilium Jet is expected to have a cruise speed of 280 km/h (175 mph) and a target range of 250+ km (155+ miles). It is designed to be significantly quieter than conventional helicopters, estimated to be six to seven times less noisy at takeoff. Safety features include Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) with 36 independent ducted fans, providing redundancy. The first production aircraft (MSN 1) powered on its systems in October 2024 for ground testing, while the second aircraft (MSN 2) is in final assembly for its first manned flight in early 2025.
Strategic Partnerships and Regulatory Progress
Lilium has established strategic partnerships to support its regional air mobility network. Collaborations include agreements with air mobility operators like UrbanLink, which plans to purchase 20 Lilium Jets for operations in South Florida. The company has also partnered with infrastructure providers such as Ferrovial, aiming to develop a network of at least ten vertiports in Florida, and Groupe ADP, to expand vertiport access in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Regulatory certification is a significant focus for Lilium, involving major aviation authorities. The company received its certification basis from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020. Lilium also secured the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) G-1 Certification Basis, a foundational step for type certificate validation in the U.S. This makes Lilium the only eVTOL manufacturer with certification bases from both EASA and the FAA for a powered-lift eVTOL aircraft.
Further regulatory milestones include Lilium receiving Design Organization Approval (DOA) from EASA in November 2023. This approval confirms the company’s organizational capabilities to design and certify aircraft, and is a requirement for manufacturers. Lilium is working with GE Aerospace to develop flight data management solutions, enhancing safety standards for eVTOL operations.
Commercialization Outlook
Lilium is progressing towards bringing its air mobility service to market, with manufacturing underway. The company began serial production of electric propulsion units for the Lilium Jet in late 2023, with initial production units expected in the second quarter of 2024. Lilium is building its first two production aircraft at its facility in Gauting, Germany. The company aims for type certification from EASA in late 2025 and targets initial customer deliveries in 2026.
The company’s commercial strategy involves selling Lilium Jets to operators and fleet owners, and operating its own fleet for air mobility services. Target launch regions and cities include Florida, parts of Germany, Brazil, and the French Riviera, where a vertiport network is being established. Lilium has partnered with Atlantic Aviation to prepare its network of Fixed-Base Operations (FBOs) across the U.S. for the Lilium Jet’s service launch, focusing on infrastructure and passenger experience.
The broader vision for integrating eVTOLs into existing transportation networks involves connecting cities and reducing travel times. Lilium projects the estimated cost per passenger mile to be around $2.25, based on a six-passenger aircraft with a high load factor and frequent daily flights. While the exact cost to build a Lilium Jet is not publicly disclosed, the company’s business model centers on providing an on-demand air taxi service, where consumers pay for rides rather than purchasing the aircraft outright.