Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Drones & Air Taxis Electric & Hybrid Flight Testing

Manned eVTOL aircraft flown for the first time in New York

Ben SampsonBy Ben Sampson23rd February 20232 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Alia-250
The Alia-250 eVTOL aircraft during the flight from Westchester County Airport (Image: Beta Technologies)

Beta Technologies and charter aviation company Blade have flown a piloted eVTOL aircraft for the first time in the New York City region.

Beta’s Alia-250 performed the test flight from the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York on February 16 after being flown from BETA’s testing facility in Plattsburgh. During the 13 minute flight the Alia-250 flew alongside a Airbus H125 chaser helicopter before pulling away for a second pass above the airport to demonstrate the difference in noise levels.

The Alia-250 is a five passenger eVTOL lift + cruise eVTOL that uses a distributed electric propulsion system with horizontal rotors and a single propeller at the rear with a 50ft (15m) wingspan. The aircraft has a range of 290 miles (460km) and a top speed of 170mph (270 km/h).

Rob Wiesenthal, CEO of Blade, which currently operates a helicopter charter business in New York and several other cities around the world said. “This demonstration is a big milestone in our transition to electric vertical aircraft, and we are pleased that our partners at Beta have designed the right aircraft for use in our home base of New York City.”

Kyle Clark, founder and CEO of Beta Technologies said, “We continue to progress our aircraft, flying missions and gaining proficiency in the airspace. We were glad to be able to fly here from our flight test facility to work with Blade to operationalize our partnership.”

According to Beta, the Alia-250’s noise profile is 90% less than conventional helicopters, making it suitable for use in urban areas.

Blade has agreed to buy up to 20 Alia-250s for operation in the USA. BETA will also provide and install charging infrastructure at certain key locations as part of the deal.

Beta has been flight testing since 2018 and has two full-scale prototype aircraft it is using to progress towards certification and commercialization.

Beta also had test pilots from the US Air Force (USAF) and US Army fly the Alia-250 in March 2022 and July 2022 respectively. These were the first flights of an eVTOL by the USAF and US Army and the industry’s first manned qualitative evaluations.

BETA has also partnered with the FAA and the National Institute for Aviation Research in the first 50ft drop tests of its full-size battery packs.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleBell flies helicopter with 100% sustainable aviation fuel
Next Article Avealto launches legal action against Airbus
Ben Sampson

Ben has worked as a journalist and editor, covering technology, engineering and industry for the last 20 years. Initially writing about subjects from nuclear submarines to autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies, he was editor of a leading UK-based engineering magazine before becoming editor of Aerospace Testing in 2017.

Related Posts

Electric & Hybrid

Drive System Design opens second UK high-speed eMachine test facility

23rd May 20252 Mins Read
Drones & Air Taxis

Wisk and NASA to partner on US autonomous flight operations and standards

20th May 20252 Mins Read
Drones & Air Taxis

Cranfield team advances in global eVTOL challenge

19th May 20253 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Drive System Design opens second UK high-speed eMachine test facility

23rd May 2025

dSPACE expands Scalexio platform for HIL testing

23rd May 2025

AIR cargo eVTOL completes night flight testing

22nd May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.