Eve Air Mobility conducted a flight of its full-scale engineering prototype for Brazilian authorities, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at Embraer’s test facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, on March 25, 2026.
The demonstration attended by ANAC and BNDES presidents, plus ministers for science, technology, ports, and airports, advances Eve’s eVTOL certification under ANAC oversight. The prototype has completed 35 flights and 1.5 hours of flight time since its December 2025 debut, reaching 140 feet above ground level. It showed stable behavior in three-axis maneuvers at low speeds up to 15 knots, validating control laws, rotor efficiency, thermal performance, and propulsion.
Propulsion and battery results exceed expectations, with noise levels below projections and far quieter than conventional helicopters. Eve plans envelope expansion to 30 knots soon, following ground tests like sensor calibration.
Eve CEO Johann Bordais stated, “We are advancing with discipline and consistency in our flight test campaign, reducing risk and building the foundation for future certification flights. The results achieved in these first months following our initial flight in December 2025 reinforce our confidence in the aircraft’s architecture and our ability to deliver a safe, efficient and scalable solution for the urban air mobility market.”
Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto noted the parent company’s certification expertise supports the program. Eve, publicly traded and Embraer-majority owned from Melbourne, Florida, targets 2027 certification with six conforming prototypes. BNDES provided over $268 million since 2022; Finep approved $17.3 million in grants. Eve contributes to Brazil’s National Urban Air Mobility Policy.