Zuri Technology Demonstrator 2.0: Advancing Hybrid VTOL Toward Regional Air Mobility

TL;DR

Zuri Technology Demonstrator 2.0 (TD 2.0) is the company's next-generation hybrid-electric tiltrotor aircraft, now under development at Zuri's new research and development facility in Prague. Designed as an all-metal, unmanned platform in the 700-kilogram class, TD 2.0 will validate the hybrid propulsion system, tiltrotor mechanism, and control laws that form the foundation of Zuri's future five-seat hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. It uses a hybrid power system designed to provide continuous cruise power, while batteries supply short-duration peak thrust for takeoff, landing, and transition.

Airframe development accelerated in April 2025, with TD 2.0 flight testing scheduled to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Insights from this campaign directly inform the final aircraft design, which will transition to advanced composites, achieve long regional range without recharging, and operate SAF-ready from day one, delivering a practical path toward sustainable regional air mobility.

 

Overview

Zuri has entered a new phase in its mission to bring efficient, sustainable hybrid VTOL technology to regional flight. Zuri Technology Demonstrator 2.0 represents a decisive step forward in validating the systems and aerodynamic principles that will define the company's next-generation hybrid VTOL aircraft.

Built on the success of the first-generation 11-meter demonstrator, which completed flight testing under Czech LCAA supervision, TD 2.0 incorporates lessons from years of simulation, subscale testing, and full-scale experimentation.

 

Key Advances in TD 2.0

TD 2.0 introduces major advancements in three interconnected areas that form the backbone of Zuri's hybrid VTOL design philosophy.

Hybrid Powertrain

The demonstrator integrates a hybrid propulsion system that combines the best of electric and internal combustion technologies to deliver extended range, operational flexibility, and reduced environmental impact. This configuration enables long regional missions without stopping to recharge, a key requirement for real-world operations.

Full Flight Mode Capability

Advanced tiltrotors allow TD 2.0 to operate across all phases of flight, including vertical takeoff and landing, transition, and cruise, to validate stability and efficiency. These modes have already been demonstrated extensively in more than ten subscale models, and TD 2.0 now validates them at full scale through unmanned testing.

Refined Design

A redesigned tail assembly and optimized propulsion layout improve aerodynamic stability and reduce drag in forward flight. Together with distributed thrust and tiltrotor mechanisms, this configuration increases cruise efficiency.

A Structured Path of Development

Zuri Hybrid VTOL is progressing through a deliberate, phased development sequence to build technical maturity step by step.

Founding and Concept Development

Definition of the Zuri hybrid VTOL concept, early aerodynamic studies, and initial system architecture.

Technology Demonstrator 1.0

A full-scale prototype with an 11-meter wingspan that completed flight testing under Czech LCAA oversight, validating VTOL principles, control logic, and stability models.

Technology Demonstrator 2.0 (current stage)

A 700-kilogram hybrid VTOL capable of both VTOL and CTOL operation. TD 2.0 is being developed in alignment with SORA certification principles and will test hybrid-electric propulsion, flight control laws, and transition performance.

Future Certified Aircraft

A five-seat hybrid VTOL for regional missions that combines fixed-wing range and performance with the flexibility and sustainability of electric propulsion.

^*Visual Flight Rules
(Values subject to ongoing validation as part of test and development program)

 

Engineering Development in Prague

The Iron Bird, Zuri's integrated systems ground test platform, is currently in development, serving as the core environment for validating hybrid-electric systems. Work on the TD 2.0 airframe accelerated in April 2025, with flight testing expected to begin by the first quarter of 2027.

This engineering setup enables Zuri to tightly couple digital simulation, laboratory testing, and physical validation, ensuring rigorous system-level maturity.

 

All-Metal Demonstrator, Composite Future

TD 2.0 is an all-metal aircraft chosen for its adaptability, inspection precision, and cost efficiency. Metal construction allows rapid design changes and easier maintenance, making it ideal for an evolving demonstrator.

The final Zuri hybrid VTOL aircraft will transition to advanced composite materials to reduce structural weight, increase aerodynamic efficiency, and meet commercial certification standards. This progression, moving from metallic prototyping to composite production, represents a pragmatic engineering path from experimental to operational aircraft.

 

Tiltrotor Design and Efficiency

TD 2.0 features a new tail and propulsion configuration with four large-diameter propulsion units positioned for aerodynamic balance. The aircraft's eight active rotors improve cruise efficiency and provide built-in redundancy for safety.

 

Hybrid Propulsion System Validation

At the core of TD 2.0 is Zuri's hybrid-electric propulsion system, which combines battery-driven electric power with an efficient combustion engine. This enables longer missions, improved energy density, and more predictable operational performance.

TD 2.0 will validate:

• Hybrid system control logic and power management across all flight phases
• Battery structure, cooling, and performance under operational loads
• Energy flow optimization between the generator, batteries, and motors
• Safety and redundancy architecture for hybrid-electric flight

This hybrid architecture will also form the foundation for Zuri's future production aircraft, extending range, lowering emissions, and ensuring Sustainable Aviation Fuel compatibility from day one.

From Simulation to Sky

TD 2.0 functions as a system-level validation platform, bridging advanced simulation with physical flight. It enables verification of aerodynamic, structural, and control models and confirms system interactions across multiple domains.

Full-envelope data collected from TD 2.0 will refine digital twin models, enhance predictive accuracy, and accelerate certification readiness for Zuri's production aircraft.

Shaping the Future of Regional Air Mobility

Zuri's vision for regional air mobility is to provide efficient, sustainable, and safe point-to-point access across underserved regions. The hybrid VTOL architecture combines the range and cruise performance of a fixed-wing aircraft with vertical capability, supporting operations independent of major airport infrastructure.

The upcoming aircraft will use hybrid propulsion to deliver long regional range without recharging and will be SAF-ready from day one, aligning with global sustainability goals while remaining practical for near-term adoption. The future five-seat aircraft is being developed around a mission-range class of approximately 700 km, suited for regional mobility beyond short-hop urban travel.

With its Prague research and development center, iron bird system testing, and the approaching TD 2.0 flight campaign, Zuri continues to advance hybrid VTOL technology through disciplined engineering and real-world validation, moving regional air mobility from concept toward operational capability.