Ascendance Flight Technologies advances final assembly of its Atea hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, positioning it for a first flight in 2026. The Paris-based company, founded by former Airbus E-FAN team members, integrates its patented Sterna hybrid propulsion system into the full-scale prototype.
The Atea accommodates one pilot and four passengers in a skyview cabin with large side windows, ceiling window, and luggage space. It features canard wings with winglets, a T-tail, and fixed tricycle landing gear. Propulsion includes eight fan-in-wing rotors for vertical lift—embedded in tandem wings for noise reduction and redundancy—and two forward-flight propellers on the nose and tail, enabling reverse thrust in VTOL mode. This lift-plus-cruise configuration avoids tilting mechanisms to simplify certification and maintenance.
Specifications encompass a cruise speed of 200 km/h (124 mph), range of 400 km (249 miles) with four passengers, maximum takeoff weight of 2,000 kg, and 10-minute ground turnaround. Distributed electric propulsion ensures safety through redundancy, allowing conventional runway landings if VTOL systems fail. The hybrid setup merges electric batteries with combustion, targeting 80% lower CO2 emissions and 75% noise reduction versus helicopters, with future compatibility for hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel.
Ascendance completed over 400 ground tests on an iron bird rig. Production was initially slated for 2025, but the prototype enters final integration, supporting peri-urban and regional missions including passenger transport, medevac, and logistics.