Vortex Aerotec · Milestones
Progress
Built. Flown. Proven. Every step from first lift-off to full scale, as it happens.
Milestones
Not a roadmap.
A track record.
2026
Full mission
Manufacturing start F1
Production of the 6 m full-scale prototype begins.
Hydrogen in every flight phase
One of the first eVTOL teams worldwide.
Fully autonomous mission
Take-off, transition, cruise, landing.
2025
Hydrogen
Factory running, round closed
Machinery installed, new prototype built, investment secured.
New home
400 m² for sub- and full-scale production.
Hydrogen-powered flight
In the air on hydrogen. Patent validated.
First flights of S2
Weather robustness confirmed.
S2 powertrain finished
Ground testing complete.
S2 airframe finished
3.50 m wingspan.
S2 production starts
More payload, more range, better manufacturing.
BVLOS testing
Beyond visual line of sight. Design IP protected.
Hydrogen ground tests
First run of the fuel cell powertrain.
2024
Lift-off
First autonomous flight
Waypoint mission, no pilot.
Full transition
From hover to wing-borne flight at 110 km/h.
Open airfield
Stable flight at speed. Simulations confirmed.
First flight of S1
The sub-scale prototype lifts off.
S1 airframe finished
Carbon composite, record-low structural weight.
Vortex Aerotec GmbH founded
Industrial drone logistics, now as a company.
Powertrain patent pending
A fuel cell architecture made for vertical flight.
Public funding
EXIST, ESA BIC and more back the project.
S1 production starts
Sub-scale prototype: 3.40 m span, 250 km at 6 kg.
Project start
Accepted at the TUM incubator, with access to its MakerSpace.