Flight testingSkyDrive
SD-05
Pilot + 2 passengers, wingless multicopter, 12 rotors
SkyDrive's SD-05 (marketed as SKYDRIVE) is a compact, wingless, battery-electric multicopter air taxi for one pilot and two passengers. It uses 12 independently controlled rotors, 3+1 redundant flight control and a four-quadrant battery. SkyDrive lists a 1,400 kg MTOW, a 110 km/h maximum cruising speed, a 15–40 km range and an 11.4 m width. It says overflights at 150 m produce about 65 dB at street level. Production started in March 2024 at a Suzuki plant, and the aircraft flew demonstration flights at Osaka Expo 2025. SkyDrive is working with Japan's JCAB and the US FAA on certification and targets service entry in 2028. Not type-certified; not sold retail.
- Range
- 15–40 km
(varies with speed, reserves, and how the pilot flies the mission).
- Payload
- Not published
- Cruise
- 110 km/h (max cruising speed)
(chosen by the pilot, and traded against range and endurance).
- Top speed
- Not published
- Flight time
- Not published
(varies with the speed the pilot selects and the reserves kept for the mission).
- Price
- Not published
- MTOW
- 1,400 kg
- Seats
- 1+2
- Battery / fuel
- Battery-electric, four independent quadrants (capacity not published)
- Size
- 12.1 × 11.4 × 3 m
- First flight
- Not published
- Entry into service
- Service entry targeted 2028 (SkyDrive target)
Full figures
- Seating
- 1 pilot + 2 passengers
- Max cruising speed
- 110 km/h
- Range
- 15–40 km (9–25 mi)
- MTOW
- 1,400 kg
- Size
- 12.1 × 11.4 × 3 m (including rotors)
- Propulsion
- 12 motors, one per rotor, independently controlled
- Flight control
- 3+1 (triplex plus independent backup)
- Noise
- 65 dB at street level when overflying at 150 m
- Structure
- CFRP composites and aluminium alloys
- Production
- started March 2024 at Suzuki's Iwata plant (capacity up to 100 a year)
- Public flights
- Osaka Expo 2025 demonstration flights
- Certification
- working with Japan's JCAB and the US FAA; service entry targeted 2028
For
- Three occupants
- JCAB and FAA certification in progress; built with Suzuki
Against
- Short range: 15–40 km
- Not sold retail; not yet certified