Zuri Announces Progress on Hybrid VTOL Technology Demonstrator 2.0

Zuri has announced new progress on its next-generation hybrid tiltrotor demonstrator, now under development at the company’s research and development facility in Prague. Technology Demonstrator 2.0 (TD 2.0) is a 700-kilogram unmanned aircraft engineered to validate the hybrid-electric powertrain, tiltrotor mechanism, and transition control laws that underpin Zuri’s future five-seat regional VTOL aircraft.

TD 2.0 features a new tail and propulsion configuration optimized for forward-flight stability and reduced drag, along with a hybrid-electric power system combining an internal combustion generator with distributed electric propulsion.

Flight testing is scheduled to begin as early as late 2026, following ongoing iron bird validation and system integration work. Findings from TD 2.0 will inform certification planning for Zuri’s five-seat aircraft, designed for regional missions up to approximately 700 km, with SAF-ready hybrid propulsion and infrastructure independence beyond major airports.

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