A skunkwork-like team of researchers and engineers led by Prof James Wang at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has flown the first eVTOL aircraft completely designed, engineered and built in Singapore.
Working with flight-test experts from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the NTU team flew the larger 8-metre wingspan demonstrator to heights above 90 metres, while the 3-metre wingspan demonstrator reached speeds of more than 120 km/h. The flights generated critical data on the aircraft’s performance.
The flights mark a historic first for Singapore, demonstrating the country’s ability to design, engineer, build, integrate and fly a complete electric aircraft. The milestone adds a new capability to Singapore’s established aerospace sector and lays the groundwork for further research into electric aviation.
The month-long mission from July to August 2026, was conducted at the DLR National Experimental Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Cochstedt, Germany. The prototypes demonstrated the eVTOL design’s ability to hover, fly using its fixed wings and transition between the two modes.
Professor James Wang, Director of the eVTOL Research and Innovation Centre at NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said:
“This is a historic feat for an aircraft designed, engineered and built in Singapore. Reaching these heights, and going from hover to forward flight, marks a new milestone for Singapore-made electric aircraft.
“It is a wonderful birthday present for Singapore as it marks its 61st year of independence.”
The NTU eVTOL design uses electrically powered lift rotors mounted on its wings to take off vertically and hover.
As the aircraft gains forward speed, its wings increasingly generate lift while a rear propeller provides forward thrust, allowing it to fly like a conventional aeroplane.
This fixed-wing mode enables efficient flight over long distances, consuming the energy of one motor, compared to conventional eVTOLs that may use up to eight rotors to hover and fly.
Transitioning between these modes is a key engineering challenge. The flight-control system must continuously manage changes in propulsion, aerodynamic forces and aircraft stability as the aircraft moves between rotor-borne hovering and wing-borne flight.
During the tests, the prototypes were remotely piloted by Prof Wang, Martin Laubner of DLR, and Mr Lu Weiyao, Co-founder and Technical Director of Flare Dynamics Pte Ltd and an NTU alumnus.
Prof Wang has 30 years of aircraft industry experience and joined NTU in 2019 as a professor teaching aircraft design, where he launched the NTU eVTOL Centre. He has worked on more than 30 manned and unmanned VTOL aircraft development programmes and is an avid model aircraft and helicopter designer and pilot, with more than 10,000 flights under his belt.
Prof Wang’s motto is:
“If it can be dreamt, it can be built.”
The team successfully flew the technology demonstrators beyond line of sight and transferred piloting control between outdoor and indoor pilots while the aircraft remained airborne.
One outdoor pilot will control the hover flight via line of sight. As the aircraft transitions to its fixed-wing mode, another pilot will take over the flight controls in a remote pilot station, before handing it over back for the landing.
The successful piloting control transfers further validated the flight-control systems and operating procedures.
Working closely with DLR flight-test specialists, the NTU team collected performance data under controlled test conditions.
Designed, Engineered and Built in Singapore
The eVTOL demonstrators are the result of more than three years of engineering at NTU. Following Prof Wang’s configuration design and guidance, researchers carried out structural and aerodynamic analysis, detailed design, system testing and systems integration.
“We have chosen the DA 30-HT-D, DA 30-HT and DA 36-LP actuators from Volz Servos for all our flight control surfaces because I have known Volz Servos for over twenty years and they make reliable and robust electromechanical actuators with the German quality”
says Prof Wang.
“We’re very excited to be part of Prof James Wang‘s eVTOL program,”
says Volz CCO Felix Thun.
“James has been in leadership roles at Leonardo Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft and worked on many rotorcraft designs. He is an early eVTOL pioneer who led AgustaWestland’s Project Zero all-electric tiltrotor demonstrator, and has inspired and advised many eVTOL startups. We’re proud that he has chosen Volz Servos for the NTU project.“
Sources: Volz; Mirage.News