Singapore-built aircraft complete first phase of flight tests in Germany

The 8m prototype reached an altitude of 92m, while the smaller aircraft climbed to 60m and attained a speed of about 120km/h.

The tests were conducted in a 1.2km by 2.4km flight area at the German Aerospace Centre, which NTU said offered more open space than was available for such testing in Singapore.

The larger prototype subsequently experienced a hard landing and is being shipped back to Singapore after the team was unable to repair it in time to assess its forward-propulsion system.

The team has yet to obtain Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore certification to operate the aircraft locally, although it has conducted tethered tests at the former Kranji Racecourse.

Wang said further work would focus on autonomous flight, range, battery capacity and the possible use of hydrogen, with future plans including a five-person aircraft with a 14m wingspan and a smaller cargo model.

According to the report, the project has received S$25 million (RM79 million) in government funding, while Wang estimated that another S$975 million would be needed to begin commercial operations, which he said could happen by 2035.