Prague-based Zuri is poised to enter a critical testing phase in its progress of a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff adn landing (VTOL) aircraft, a project that could significantly impact the future of regional air mobility. The Czech startup recently secured €4.4 million in pre-Series A funding to accelerate development of its TD 2.0 demonstrator [[1]]. Flight tests are scheduled to begin between late 2026 and early 2027, and will be a key determinant in the aircraft’s progression toward certification and potential commercialization.
Czech startup Zuri is nearing a key milestone in the development of its hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, with flight tests of a functional prototype scheduled to begin between late 2026 and early 2027. The results of these tests will be crucial in determining the project’s future direction.
Foto: Zuri
Prototype of the Czech hybrid VTOL aircraft ZURI, approximately 70 percent the size of the production version.
Prague-based startup Zuri is on the cusp of a significant advancement in regional air mobility. The company is preparing for flight tests of its hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, a development that could position it as a key player in the emerging advanced air mobility market. The functional prototype, designated TD 2.0 and representing approximately 70% of the planned production model, is slated for testing between late 2026 and early 2027.
Zuri is targeting what it calls “advanced regional mobility.” The future production model is designed to accommodate one pilot and four passengers, for a total of five occupants. The aircraft is expected to cruise at speeds between 186 and 217 miles per hour (300-350 kilometers per hour), with a planned range of approximately 435 miles (700 kilometers), including a mandatory 30-minute reserve. This extended range differentiates Zuri from many all-electric eVTOL aircraft, which typically offer a real-world range closer to 62 miles (100 kilometers).
At the heart of the Zuri project is a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The aircraft will feature eight tilting rotors – four in each wing and one in a prominent V-tail – powered by independent electric motors. During takeoff and landing, the aircraft will operate similarly to a drone. As it transitions to horizontal flight, the rotors will tilt forward, allowing Zuri to fly like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The electric system will be powered by a combination of batteries and a turbogenerator running on aviation fuel, with plans already underway to utilize sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This hybrid approach aims to deliver significantly more energy from fuel than current battery technology allows, while also reducing battery weight and overall system complexity.
The TD 2.0 technology demonstrator, with a maximum takeoff weight of around 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms), is playing a critical role in the development process. The full-scale, five-seat VTOL is projected to weigh approximately 6,173 pounds (2,800 kilograms). The TD 2.0 will be unmanned and will serve to validate the hybrid-electric propulsion system, the tilting rotor mechanism, and the control system for transitioning between vertical and horizontal flight. The results of these tests will be essential for the subsequent certification process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is developing specific regulations for new types of VTOL aircraft.
If the timeline holds and the TD 2.0 successfully takes flight between late 2026 and early 2027, Zuri will join the ranks of Europe’s most technologically advanced hybrid VTOL projects. For the Czech aerospace industry, this would represent a significant milestone – the first domestically developed aircraft with the potential to reshape regional travel over distances of several hundred kilometers.
