Alia eVTOL by Beta Technologies
The Beta Technologies Alia eVTOL is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft that drew direct inspiration from the Arctic tern, a seabird capable of migrating 40,000 km between the Arctic and Antarctica every year. Built by Vermont-based Beta Technologies, the Alia is one of the most credible entries in the advanced air mobility sector: it was among the first two eVTOL aircraft selected by the US Air Force under the Agility Prime programme, and it received the Air Force's first-ever airworthiness certificate for an electric aircraft in 2021.
Design: Fixed Rotors and a Pusher Prop
Unlike many eVTOL designs that tilt their rotors between vertical and forward flight, the Alia uses four fixed horizontal rotors for lift during take-off and landing, and a single rear-facing pusher propeller for forward cruise. The logic is straightforward: fewer moving parts means fewer failure modes. Fixed rotors cannot jam or fail to transition at a critical moment, making the architecture more mechanically reliable for commercial operations than tilted or morphing alternatives.
Performance and Specifications
The Alia ALIA-250 has a 15-metre (50 ft) wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of approximately 2,720 kg (6,000 lb), and is designed to carry up to five passengers or an equivalent cargo load over distances of up to 460 km (250 nautical miles) on a single charge. In July 2021, the aircraft completed a 330 km crewed flight, its longest at the time. Charging time targets approximately one hour for a full recharge. As eVTOL.news documented, Beta has also developed its own network of charging stations positioned along the most commercially relevant air corridors, addressing the range-anxiety problem at infrastructure level rather than battery level.
Military Selection and Certification
Beta Technologies and Joby Aviation were the two companies selected by the USAF to advance through the Agility Prime development programme, the military's initiative to accelerate commercial eVTOL technology. In May 2021, Beta received the Air Force's first airworthiness certificate issued to an electric aircraft, enabling actual military test flights. A US Army contract followed in early 2022. As Flying Magazine reported, the first airman flight of an electric aircraft in the US military was completed in the Alia.
For those who want to explore the wider world of personal and commercial aviation, TheArsenale carries a curated selection of advanced aircraft: the Ehang AAV autonomous passenger drone, the XPENG X2 eVTOL flying car, and the Icon A5 amphibious light sport aircraft. Browse the full TheArsenale aero collection for the full range.
