SkyDrive Inc., a leading eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, has successfully concluded a series of demonstration flights of its “SKYDRIVE” (SkyDrive Model SD-05), held over five days from February 24 to February 28, 2026. Organized in collaboration with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. and Kanematsu Corporation, the flights took place at Tokyo Big Sight on Tokyo Bay and marked the first public flights of SkyDrive’s aircraft in Tokyo. The program was conducted as part of the “Project for Developing Business Models for eVTOL Services in Tokyo,” an initiative announced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in June 2025.
The primary objective was to evaluate integrated ground and flight operations necessary for future urban eVTOL commercialization. SkyDrive and its partners assessed the full operational sequence—from pre-flight preparation through departure, cruising, landing, and hangar return. A terminal infrastructure was also built to allow public participants to test pre-boarding procedures, including facial recognition check-in and security screening, providing valuable data to ensure smooth future passenger operations.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been actively supporting eVTOL development, recognizing its potential to reduce traffic congestion and transform urban mobility. Since 2022, Mitsubishi Estate and Kanematsu have been validating business models and conducting feasibility studies, including potential routes between central Tokyo and Tokyo Bay. These studies have shown travel time reductions to less than one-third of road travel while highlighting the importance of efficient pre- and post-travel procedures.
SkyDrive joined the project in 2025, and together with partners including UK-based Skyports, conducted these demo flights to assess both aircraft and terminal operations. The flights operated from a dedicated takeoff site at Tokyo Big Sight, using the same SKYDRIVE model flown at Expo 2025 in Osaka. The flight route, situated near Haneda Airport’s flight paths, also allowed confirmation of the aircraft’s low acoustic footprint.
The SKYDRIVE demonstrated its ability to take off and land in confined spaces—a critical advantage for safe operations from rooftops and compact vertiports. This capability increases potential vertiport sites, enabling more flexible and scalable urban eVTOL services. The successful demo flights offered visitors a glimpse of a near future where eVTOL travel becomes an everyday part of city life.
