Eve Air Mobility Partners with Korea Aerospace for eVTOL Pylon Supply

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Eve Air Mobility (Eve) has appointed Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) as the supplier of pylons for its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Pylons are crucial for supporting the aircraft’s electric power units and eight lift propellers.

“KAI has an excellent reputation for quality, technology and business performance  supplying numerous aerostructure components for a variety of aircraft including Embraer’s E-Jet E2 model,” said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. “We are excited to have KAI join a strong and diverse list of suppliers who will work with us to supply components from prototype through production.” 

Over the last three decades, KAI has been a major provider of aerostructure components to global aircraft manufacturers, notably for Embraer’s E-Jet E2. This new partnership marks KAI’s strategic entry into the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. Last year, KAI’s CEO Goo Young Kang emphasized the company’s commitment to future air mobility and space as part of its vision for 2050, announcing significant investments to enhance its AAM market presence.

Recently, Eve announced other key suppliers for its eVTOL project: Aciturri (wing components), Crouzet (pilot controls), Thales (sensors and computers), Honeywell (guidance, navigation, and external lighting), RECARO (aircraft seating), FACC (tail structures), Garmin (avionics), Liebherr-Aerospace (flight control actuators), Intergalactic (thermal management), Nidec Aerospace, LLC (electric propulsion), BAE Systems (energy storage), and Duc Hélice Propellers (rotors and propellers).

Eve’s eVTOL uses a lift+cruise configuration with eight propellers for vertical lift and fixed wings for cruise flight, featuring an electric pusher with dual motors for redundancy, aimed at ensuring optimal performance and safety. The design offers benefits like reduced operational costs, fewer parts, and low noise, designed for efficient and quiet thrust.

Last year, Eve announced its first eVTOL production facility would be in Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil, with assembly of the first full-scale prototype underway, leading to a test campaign. Deliveries are expected to start in 2026.

Additionally, Eve is expanding its service offerings with Vector, a proprietary Urban Air Traffic Management software to enhance Urban Air Mobility operations globally.

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