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Volar eVTOL

Short answer: Bellwether Industries, founded in London in 2019, is developing the Volar, a wingless lifting-body eVTOL with ducted fans hidden inside its body.

In November 2021, a half-scale, remotely piloted two-seat prototype called Antelope made eight free flights in Dubai, up to about 4 m high and about 40 km/h. The company's targets for the final aircraft are 4 to 5 seats, a width of 3.2 m, about 220 km/h and a 600 kg maximum takeoff weight. In 2023 it announced a propulsion partnership with Schubeler for its next prototype, Oryx. None of these targets has been demonstrated at full scale.

VideoWrite-up4 sources

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What should you know about Volar eVTOL?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The Volar has flown only as a half-scale, remotely piloted prototype.

    DD-734-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (First free flights)

  2. Its electric propulsion is ducted fans hidden in the body.

    DD-734-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit C (Hidden fans)

Video transcript: Volar eVTOL: A Wingless, Supercar-Styled eVTOL From London

DID YOU KNOW? Bellwether Industries Volar is a British-designed electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that looks more like a futuristic supercar. Its defining feature is a wingless lifting-body design with hidden electric propulsion, allowing the aircraft to maintain a compact profile intended for urban environments rather than relying on exposed rotors or conventional wings. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 21.9s Reel ·

Video coming soonVolar eVTOL · Instagram Reel
Volar eVTOL: A Wingless, Supercar-Styled eVTOL From London Instagram Reel · · 21.9s

The write-up

A wingless, supercar-styled eVTOL from London. So far it has flown only as a half-scale, remotely piloted prototype.

  1. Exhibit A

    The company

    Bellwether Industries was founded in London in 2019. It pitches the Volar as a private aircraft for trips within cities.

  2. Exhibit B

    First free flights

    In November 2021, a remotely piloted half-scale prototype made eight untethered flights in Dubai, reaching about 4 m (13 ft) at about 40 km/h. These followed a year of indoor tethered tests.

  3. Exhibit C

    Hidden fans

    The propulsion is ducted fans concealed inside the bodywork. New Atlas observed what appeared to be four fixed units and no separate cruise propulsion.

  4. Exhibit D

    Targets, not results

    For the full-size aircraft, the company targets 4 to 5 seats, a width of 3.2 m, cruising at up to 915 m (3,000 ft) and 220 km/h, and a 600 kg maximum takeoff weight. New Atlas questioned whether batteries could support those goals.

  5. Exhibit E

    Next steps

    In 2023, Bellwether announced a partnership with Schubeler on electric ducted-fan propulsion for its next-generation prototype, Oryx.

Questions people ask about Volar eVTOL

Where did the Volar prototype first fly freely?

In Dubai in November 2021.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (First free flights) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

How big was the flying prototype?

It was a half-scale, remotely piloted model.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (First free flights) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

What kind of propulsion does it hide?

Ducted fans concealed in the body.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Hidden fans) · New Atlas: Bellwether's Volar eVTOL begins flight testing at half-scale

How fast did the prototype fly?

About 40 km/h; 220 km/h is a target.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Targets, not results) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; New Atlas: Bellwether's Volar eVTOL begins flight testing at half-scale

When was Bellwether founded?

In London in 2019.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The company) · Schubeler: Schubeler and Bellwether Industries to build and test electric propulsion systems for Volars (2023); eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Where did the Volar prototype first fly freely?

    1. London
    2. Dubai
    3. Tokyo
    4. Paris
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Dubai In Dubai in November 2021. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (First free flights) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

  2. How big was the flying prototype?

    1. Half-scale
    2. Full-scale
    3. Tenth-scale
    4. Double-scale
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Half-scale It was a half-scale, remotely piloted model. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (First free flights) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

  3. What kind of propulsion does it hide?

    1. Ducted fans
    2. Jet engines
    3. Propellers on wings
    4. Rockets
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Ducted fans Ducted fans concealed in the body. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Hidden fans) · New Atlas: Bellwether's Volar eVTOL begins flight testing at half-scale

  4. How fast did the prototype fly?

    1. About 40 km/h
    2. About 220 km/h
    3. About 400 km/h
    4. Mach 1
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. About 40 km/h About 40 km/h; 220 km/h is a target. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Targets, not results) · Vertical Mag: UK's Bellwether completes first eVTOL test flight in Dubai; New Atlas: Bellwether's Volar eVTOL begins flight testing at half-scale

  5. When was Bellwether founded?

    1. 2009
    2. 2019
    3. 2023
    4. 2026
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. 2019 In London in 2019. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The company) · Schubeler: Schubeler and Bellwether Industries to build and test electric propulsion systems for Volars (2023); eVTOL Insights: Bellwether Industries reveals first flight test footage of its half-scale Volar prototype

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Volar eVTOL." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-734, last updated Sep 1, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/volar-evtol/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/volar-evtol/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-734-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/volar-evtol/#DD-734-F01

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