Skyfly Receives FAA Clearance for Axe VCA eVTOL Test Flights

Skyfly, a UK-based developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has received Experimental authorization from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Axe Vertically Capable Aircraft (VCA) prototype, allowing the company to begin piloted flight testing and customer demonstrations in the United States.

The Axe prototype, serial number 001, registered as N250EV, made its North American debut at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh 2025 event. Following the event, the aircraft remained in the US to continue its flight testing program. Skyfly cited more stable winter weather and the opportunity to showcase the Axe to potential buyers in what it considers the largest emerging market for eVTOLs and VCAs as key reasons for relocating testing.

“Receiving FAA Experimental authorization is a major milestone for Skyfly. It allows us to advance piloted flight testing under the world’s most respected aviation regulator while positioning the Axe at the heart of the US general aviation market,” said Michael Thompson, CEO, Skyfly.

The FAA’s approval enables Skyfly to transition from uncrewed prototype testing to manned flight operations under regulatory oversight. Thompson described this stage as “the next phase of the Axe’s evolution, from prototype to production aircraft, demonstrating that a safe, efficient, and practical personal eVTOL is already a reality.”

The Axe VCA is a two-seat electric aircraft designed to operate both as a fixed-wing airplane and as a helicopter. With a base price of US$180,000, it targets private owners and pilots seeking personal mobility solutions that combine efficiency with short takeoff and landing capabilities. Skyfly describes it as a “personal eVTOL aircraft uniquely capable of operating like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft or a helicopter.”

Skyfly’s US expansion coincides with regulatory changes under the FAA’s Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) framework. Updated in July 2025, MOSAIC recognizes the emerging role of eVTOLs and private VCAs in general aviation, allowing such aircraft to be certified as Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), which simplifies certification and lowers pilot licensing requirements.

Under these guidelines, the Axe can be operated by Sport Pilots as well as fully licensed pilots, and the regulatory shift opens limited commercial opportunities, which Skyfly officials say could accelerate adoption among private operators and small-scale mobility service providers.