Textron eAviation Set to Test Nexus eVTOL

The Wichita, Kansas-based company has announced the first flight of the full-scale technology demonstrator of its electric vehicle takeoff and landing aircraft will happen at Salina Regional Airport (KSLN). In addition to Runways 17/35 and 4/22, the airport also has six helipads.

“This program will follow the successful conclusion of initial restrained flight tests, which are planned for 2025 at the National Institute of Aviation Research facility in Wichita,” Textron said in a statement.

The company said the flight test program at KSLN will be “instrumental in validating the aircraft’s full performance envelope.”

The Nexus is a zero-emission aircraft designed to carry one pilot and up to four passengers. Its electric propulsion system powers four tilting propellers and two aft stationary vertical rotors. 

The aircraft will have a wide range of applications, ranging from the transportation of cargo to passenger transport, Textron said.

Salina Regional Airport was established in 1942 and used as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress base during World War II. Today, it is known in part for its role in the development of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) as it is used for testing for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations that are part of the development of this technology by the FAA.

The airport is also used by the Kansas State University Applied Aviation Research Center for UAS research and development.

“Kansas boasts a rich aviation history, and we’re proud to work alongside the Salina Airport Authority [SAA] to test these emerging technologies so close to home,” said Kriya Shortt, president and CEO of Textron eAviation, adding that the facilities and support provided by SAA are vital in bringing the Nexus eVTOL to market.

“Salina Regional Airport has a long-standing tradition of supporting aviation innovation, and we look forward to contributing to the success of the Nexus eVTOL program,” said Pieter Miller, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority.