Korean advanced air mobility service startup Mint Air has placed an order with Skyworks Aeronautics, a US gyroplane developer, for 100 eGyro eVTOL aircraft as part of a consortium that also includes US battery developer Mobius. The deal includes options for an additional 100 aircraft.

“We are pleased to announce the Skyworks eGyro as the launch UAM platform for Mint Air,” says Mint Air CEO Eugene Choi. “The fundamental safety and performance advantages of the eGyro will enable Mint Air to accelerate the adoption of intra and inter-city passenger transport in Korea.”

Skyworks co-founder and executive director John Michel adds: “A consortium led by Mint Air is committed to bringing safe, efficient and cost-effective electric aircraft solutions to South Korea, and we are absolutely thrilled it has selected our eGyro as its aircraft of choice to initiate operation of the leading eVTOL service in Korea. We look forward to performing our first public demonstrations of the eGyro in Korea and to launching the eGyro UAM platform in the Korean market.”

The consortium led by Mint Air and Skyworks signed a letter of intent for exclusive partnership in South Korea. The consortium will collaborate with Skyworks to develop a pilot training programme and maintenance and repair capability in Korea for efficient operation of the eGyro fleet.

The eGyro will leverage Mobius' novel battery module architecture and low total cost of ownership providing power-as-a-service business model. “The high energy density, unmatched power boost and outstanding thermal management of the Mobius battery modules support our efforts to produce an aircraft with best-in-class range and ” explains Skyworks co-founder and chief technology officer Don Woodbury.

Jongwon ‘JP’ Park, chief strategy officer and co-founder of Mobius concludes: “We are building a global aviation battery alliance, and our partnership with Skyworks to bring the eGyro to the Korean market marks an important milestone. Skyworks is the first of many customers who recognised the performance and safety of our battery.”