Zuri at AERO Friedrichshafen 2025: Shaping the Future of Hybrid VTOL and Regional Air Mobility

From April 9 to 12, Zuri Hybrid VTOL made a powerful impression at AERO Friedrichshafen 2025, Europe’s leading general aviation event. With over 32,000 visitors and 760 exhibitors in attendance, the energy on the floor was electric. Zuri stood out by offering more than just a vision. We gave attendees a hands-on experience of what regional air mobility can and should become.

At our booth, we went beyond the usual displays. Attendees got to experience sustainable flight through an immersive VR simulator and a full-scale ground testbed with spinning propellers and LED lighting that brought our hybrid propulsion system to life. We had some fantastic conversations with pilots, suppliers, operators, investors, and aviation enthusiasts, connecting with people from across the aviation community.

Watch the Video: Zuri at AERO Friedrichshafen

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Zuri’s booth, hear insights from the floor, and learn about our exciting plans for the future of regional air mobility.

Inside Zuri’s Hybrid VTOL Showcase

At AERO Friedrichshafen 2025, we didn't just talk about innovation. We brought it to life. From TD 2.0 and our full-scale ground testbed to the immersive flight simulator and live testing footage, here’s what visitors experienced at the Zuri booth.

TD 2.0: Next-Generation Technology Demonstrator

Zuri’s next-generation technology demonstrator, TD 2.0, is a major leap forward in hybrid VTOL aircraft development. Building on the success of our first 11-meter demonstrator, TD 2.0 introduces important innovations in three key areas:

• Hybrid Powertrain: A propulsion system combining electric and internal combustion technologies to extend range, offer operational flexibility, and reduce environmental impact.
• Full Flight Mode Capability: TD 2.0 is designed to fly in vertical takeoff and landing, transition, and cruise modes using advanced tiltrotors. These capabilities have been successfully tested in our earlier subscale aircraft.
• Refined Aircraft Design: The updated Zuri 2.0 configuration includes new tiltrotors and a reengineered tail section to improve aerodynamic efficiency, flight stability, and overall performance.

"With TD 2.0, we're not just making incremental improvements. We're redefining what’s possible in VTOL mobility. This phase of development shows the real potential of our hybrid concept and brings us closer to safe, efficient, and sustainable mid-range travel." – Michal Illich, CEO

VR Flight Simulation

Our five-person simulator gave visitors the chance to virtually fly our aircraft, experiencing a hybrid VTOL journey from both the pilot’s seat and the passenger’s perspective. Designed to be immersive and accessible, it helped audiences connect with the concept of sustainable regional air travel.

Skeleton: Full-Scale Ground Testbed

Our full-scale ground testbed, Skeleton, featured spinning propellers and an animated LED lighting system that visualized how our hybrid-electric propulsion system functions. It provided a tangible, real-time demonstration of the technology at the heart of Zuri.

Testing Footage and Vision

Video displays at the booth showcased real-world subscale model and TD 1.0 testing and our development milestones. These visuals helped visitors connect what they saw on-site with the broader progress happening behind the scenes in and around Prague.

Conversations That Mattered

We had some great conversations with a wide range of people, from pilots and airport operators to component suppliers, investors, and curious visitors. These chats sparked excitement and gave us the chance to share our roadmap, upcoming opportunities, and vision for the future of regional air mobility.

Why AERO 2025 Mattered for Sustainable Aviation

This year’s AERO Friedrichshafen featured over 130 companies presenting sustainable aviation technologies, including electric, hybrid, and hydrogen propulsion. The strong focus on innovation validated Zuri’s vision of hybrid-electric flight as the key to unlocking practical, longer-range regional solutions beyond urban air mobility.

Our aircraft are designed for more than just quick hops between city rooftops. Zuri enables efficient, low-emission travel to weekend homes, remote business hubs, and nature-filled destinations without sacrificing range or flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Zuri different from other electric aircraft?

Zuri uses a hybrid-electric propulsion system, not battery-only. This enables us to go anywhere on demand, with a range of up to 700 kilometers (approximately 430 miles) and shorter turnaround times. Unlike other electric aircraft, we don’t rely on new, costly infrastructure. Our hybrid system is compatible with existing facilities, so there’s no need to wait for investments to be made or new infrastructure to be built. This makes Zuri an ideal solution for real regional mobility.

What's next for Zuri?

TD 2.0 is our next major milestone, bringing full-scale hybrid VTOL capability into focus. With ongoing testing and design refinements, we’re getting closer to making regional air mobility a reality. We’re also expanding our operations with a new facility outside of Prague, where we will assemble the Iron Bird, a full-scale ground test platform, marking a key step in our development and testing process.

Can I invest in Zuri?

Zuri recently secured €3 million in new funding, bringing our oversubscribed pre-Series A round to €4.4 million. This investment supports the next phase of hybrid VTOL development and strengthens our position as a leader in sustainable regional air mobility.

While the next funding round has not been officially announced, we are open to early conversations with investors interested in joining us before the window formally opens. If you're interested, reach out to us at investor@zuri.com or via our invest page.

Is Zuri hiring?

Yes. We’re growing and updating roles regularly, so we encourage you to check our careers page often. Even if you don’t see a role that fits right now, feel free to reach out. We’re always interested in hearing from talented people who share our vision.

Follow the Journey

Zuri is building a smarter, cleaner way to connect regions by air. AERO Friedrichshafen 2025 was an important step forward in that journey.

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