Supernal debuts S-A2 eVTOL concept

Supernal LLC, Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company returned to the biennial Farnborough International Airshow, where it displayed its full-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle product concept, S-A2, and shared its progress toward launching commercial flights in 2028. The event marked the introduction of S-A2 to the aviation community and is the latest milestone in Supernal’s journey toward realizing safe, efficient, and affordable everyday passenger air travel.

The aircraft is designed to get people in urban areas to their destinations faster, and leverages expertise from Supernal’s innovative aerospace engineering teams in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group’s automotive designers and manufacturing teams. Built to cruise at 120 miles per hour at altitudes between 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet above ground level, S-A2 will have an initial range of 60 miles to meet typical city operation needs. The aircraft uses a distributed electric propulsion architecture and will operate quietly to meet community noise standards. Most importantly, S-A2 is engineered to achieve global commercial aviation safety standards with a robust airframe structure that includes redundant components in critical systems such as powertrain, flight controls, and avionics.

“We are eager to share Supernal’s latest product milestone – our eVTOL product concept – with the aviation industry as we work to launch commercial Advanced Air Mobility operations in 2028,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “With our ‘right product, right market at the right time’ philosophy, S-A2 embodies critical work Supernal is conducting with fleet operators, suppliers, governments and Hyundai Motor Group to ensure AAM becomes a safe, economically viable and widespread mode of transportation in the coming decades.”

Supernal will initiate prototype testing of S-A2 in 2025; prior to then, the company will begin flying its full-scale technology demonstrator (FSTD). The FSTD test program will inform Supernal’s prototype vehicle by helping to mature and validate vehicle systems, optimize supply chain processes and solidify internal testing protocols. The company announced GKN successfully delivered the full composite wing assembly for the FSTD and will deliver the booms by the end of the month.

“2024 is a pivotal year for Supernal’s eVTOL development, marking the transition from engineering design to the build and execution phases,” said David McBride, chief technology officer, Supernal. “In addition to gaining instrumental learnings from our full-scale technology demonstrator, we will also begin prototype development and continue refining our production vehicle for scaled manufacturing in the coming months.”

In pursuit of integrating AAM into existing transit options, Supernal continues to convene crucial stakeholders to responsibly co-create the industry’s ecosystem.

“We know an eVTOL vehicle is just one piece of the AAM puzzle,” Shin said. “Building the entire ground-to-air ecosystem requires thoughtful collaboration among leaders across all aspects of the industry. The Farnborough International Airshow provides the right platform to do just that.”

At the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow, Supernal and Sigma Air Mobility, a Luxaviation Group company, announced a joint effort to identify and develop targeted markets for future AAM infrastructure and investments, targeting key markets in South and Southeast Asia and potential opportunities in Southern Europe. The collaboration is intended to leverage the companies’ combined expertise to lead in the visioning, launch and scale-up of decarbonized and accessible air mobility networks in these regions, with Sigma operating Supernal electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and providing vertiport development and operations and related services.

Luxaviation Group offers a global presence and extensive expertise in aviation fleet and infrastructure operations, training, and technical services. It is one of the largest business aircraft, helicopter, and private aviation terminal operators worldwide. Sigma draws from Luxaviation’s extensive operational expertise and footprint for its efforts in sustainable and accessible air mobility.

“The need for more sustainable aviation solutions is global, while specific transportation needs are local,” said Christophe Lapierre, CEO, Sigma Air Mobility. “Together, Sigma Air Mobility and Supernal can expand access to Advanced Air Mobility by matching our solutions with the markets where they will be best suited.”

Under the multi-year memorandum of understanding, Supernal and Sigma will identify target markets for collaborative projects, align with local transportation needs, and work with public and private partners and investors to establish the structure needed to build local AAM ecosystems.