Cosmic Aerospace unveiled the Cosmic One, a four-seat, all-electric aviation aircraft designed specifically to leverage the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) newly implemented Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) regulations, on July 30, 2026.

The Colorado-based manufacturer also announced local flight club Centennial Flyers as the launch customer for the aircraft, which targets a 2028 first flight and 2029 deliveries. The announcement follows the July 24, 2026, enactment of the MOSAIC rules, which expand light-sport aircraft (LSA) parameters to allow heavier, four-seat, factory-built electric aircraft to enter the market without undergoing the traditional, capital-intensive Part 23 certification process.

Aircraft specifications and performance

The Cosmic One features an embedded electric propulsion system utilizing six independent ducted fans integrated into the wing. According to specifications provided to AVweb, the aircraft is designed to meet the expanded performance limits allowed under the new regulatory framework.

Cosmic Aerospace released the following target specifications for the production aircraft:

• Maximum capacity: 4 seats
• Maximum speed: 250 knots
• Range: 250 nautical miles (plus Visual Flight Rules reserves)
• Endurance: Greater than 2 hours
• Climb rate: 2,000 feet per minute
• Maximum takeoff weight: 4,400 pounds
• Wingspan: 49 feet
• Recharge time: 30 minutes

Cosmic Aerospace Co-founder and CEO Christopher Chahine told Aviation Week the company is positioning the aircraft as a premium, high-performance product priced similarly to current Cirrus Aircraft models. The manufacturer opened reservations on July 30, 2026, requiring a fully refundable $2,500 deposit to secure a production position in the initial Founder Series.

The MOSAIC certification pathway

The development of the Cosmic One is directly tied to the FAA MOSAIC rules (Part 22). Prior to this regulatory update, certifying a clean-sheet electric aircraft required navigating the Part 23 standard, a process that typically takes up to a decade and requires hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

Chahine told AVweb that while the physics of electric aviation have been viable for years, certification economics remained the primary barrier to market entry.

In a press release issued on July 30, 2026, Cosmic Aerospace detailed the impact of the new regulations on their business model:

“MOSAIC moves to performance-based standards, allows up to four seats, and for the first time clears the way for electric aircraft to be factory-built and certified. It’s designed to strengthen safety while opening the door to modern technology like electric propulsion. That change resets the economics and the timeline of building an airplane.”

Development timeline and launch customer

Centennial Flyers, a flight club based at Centennial Airport (APA) in Colorado, will serve as the launch customer for the Cosmic One. The organization, which currently operates 42 aircraft and serves more than 1,000 members, placed an order for four aircraft with options for two additional airframes.

Cosmic Aerospace has been developing the underlying technology since its founding. In February 2025, the company completed the first flight of its CX-2 subscale demonstrator, which utilized 32 embedded electric motors. Chahine noted to Aviation Week that the company focused initially on derisking its engine technology. He confirmed the subscale demonstrators proved the embedded engine architecture is stable, controllable, and capable of meeting performance targets.

The company plans to fly a full-scale prototype in 2028, with initial customer deliveries scheduled for 2029.

AirPro News analysis

The unveiling of the Cosmic One provides an early look at how the aerospace industry will respond to the FAA MOSAIC regulations. By expanding the definition of light-sport aircraft to include four-seat, heavier airframes with alternative propulsion, the FAA has effectively created a bypass around the prohibitive costs of Part 23 certification for specific operational profiles. We expect to see a rapid proliferation of clean-sheet electric and hybrid-electric designs targeting this exact regulatory window. Cosmic Aerospace is utilizing a pragmatic approach by securing a local, high-volume flight club as a launch customer, ensuring a controlled initial operating environment to build fleet hours and validate the embedded propulsion architecture.

Sources: Cosmic Aerospace

Air India Limited (AI), SkyDrive Inc., and Suzuki Motor Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 31, 2026, to evaluate the use of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for emergency medical logistics across India. The partnership targets the country’s severe urban traffic congestion by exploring how advanced air mobility can reduce transit times for critical medical supplies.

In a press release issued on July 31, 2026, SkyDrive detailed the joint feasibility study, which will focus on deploying the manufacturer’s SD-05 eVTOL aircraft. The collaboration brings together Air India’s aviation and airport infrastructure expertise, SkyDrive’s aircraft development, and Suzuki’s manufacturing and mobility experience to build a framework for scalable medical air transport.

Addressing urban congestion with medical air logistics

The feasibility study aims to establish a reliable network for transporting high-value, time-sensitive medical supplies in Indian cities where chronic traffic congestion delays ground transport.

“The potential application of eVTOL aircraft for medical air logistics is particularly compelling because it combines technology and purpose, helping to reduce critical transit times when every minute can make a difference,” said Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo at Air India Limited.

Mamidala noted that the airline will contribute operational expertise and stakeholder relationships to evaluate safe operations. SkyDrive Founder and CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa emphasized the life-saving potential of the technology in congested environments.

“In India, where chronic congestion is a pressing issue, utilizing eVTOLs for advanced medical logistics including the transport of high-value, time-critical medical supplies will reshape medical infrastructure,” Fukuzawa stated.

Suzuki’s role and broader eVTOL expansion

Suzuki Motor Corporation, which already maintains a business and technology collaboration with SkyDrive, will assist in integrating the eVTOL platform into broader urban mobility networks. Masao Fujitani, Executive General Manager of Next Generation Business Development at Suzuki, stated that the aircraft aligns with the company’s philosophy of creating smaller, lighter, and more efficient transport options.

The Indian partnership follows a period of rapid expansion for SkyDrive’s regional footprint. According to reporting by Aviation International News, SkyDrive signed a separate MoU on July 23, 2026, with Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited and Thai partners to develop an eVTOL roadmap for routes in Sri Racha, Bangkok, and Koh Samui.

Aviation International News also reported that in late July 2026, the Japanese government officially designated eVTOL aircraft as a key technology within the Aviation and Space Strategic Field of its national growth strategy.

AirPro News analysis

We view the specific focus on medical logistics as a pragmatic entry point for eVTOL operations in India. While passenger air taxi services face significant regulatory and public acceptance hurdles, emergency medical transport offers a clear, high-value use case that justifies the initial infrastructure investment. By partnering with an established national carrier like Air India and a mass-market manufacturer like Suzuki, SkyDrive is positioning its SD-05 platform to navigate both the operational complexities of Indian airspace and the manufacturing scale required for commercial viability.

Sources: SkyDrive Inc.

This is original reporting and analysis by AirPro News.

On July 23, 2026, French aerospace Startups Positive Aviation received the first 17-meter composite scooping float for its FF72-X1 amphibious firefighting demonstrator. The Delivery marks a critical industrial milestone in the company’s effort to convert the Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) 72-600 regional turboprop into a high-capacity water scooper capable of replacing the out-of-production Canadair CL-415.

In an official statement, Positive Aviation confirmed the transfer of the 1.2-metric-ton float from the Manufacturing facility of naval composite specialist Multiplast in Vannes, France, to the Airbus Technocentre in Nantes. The component will undergo initial assembly in Nantes before final integration onto the ATR 72 airframe at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). The project aims to address a growing global shortage of purpose-built aerial firefighting assets.

Engineering the FF72 scooping system

The FF72 program centers on modifying an existing ATR 72-600 airframe rather than designing a clean-sheet aircraft. Positive Aviation Chief Executive Officer Laurent Schmitt noted that building a new Canadair equivalent from scratch presents a colossal challenge, driving the strategy to adapt the proven ATR 72 platform for amphibious operations.

The newly delivered floats are designed to withstand immense hydrodynamic forces. During operation, the FF72 will scoop water at speeds of 180 km/h, filling its 8-metric-ton (2,100-gallon) tanks in just 12 seconds. To achieve this, Positive Aviation partnered with Multiplast, a firm known for constructing high-performance racing yachts. Schmitt highlighted that the collaboration merges aeronautical precision with naval expertise in composite materials, ensuring the floats can endure the stresses of high-speed aquatic environments. The successful delivery of the first float was managed jointly by Elyssa Bejaoui of Positive Aviation and Maeg Lehoux of Multiplast.

Commercial backing and development timeline

The FF72 development is supported by an €8 million fundraising round completed on June 30, 2025, which financed the creation of the FF72-X1 demonstrator. The program has also secured early commercial interest from North-America operators. On March 25, 2025, Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become the launch customer, committing to 10 aircraft with options for 10 more. Bridger Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Sam Davis stated that the FF72 will be a valuable addition to their fleet amid increasing global demand for year-round aerial firefighting resources.

With the first float now in the assembly phase, Positive Aviation is targeting early 2027 for the commencement of the flight and water test campaign. The company plans to present the FF72-X1 demonstrator at the Paris Air Show in June 2027. Regulatory certification is targeted for 2028, with entry into service and initial deliveries to Bridger Aerospace projected for the 2029 wildfire season.

AirPro News analysis

We view the FF72 program as a highly pragmatic approach to a severe capability gap in the aerial firefighting sector. The cessation of Canadair CL-415 production left operators with aging fleets and few direct replacements. By leveraging the established ATR 72-600 supply chain and airframe, Positive Aviation bypasses the most capital-intensive phases of clean-sheet Commercial-Aircraft development.

The structural integration of 17-meter floats onto a commercial turboprop introduces significant aerodynamic and hydrodynamic complexities. The upcoming 2027 water testing phase will be the definitive proving ground for the structural integrity of the Multiplast composites and the modified airframe’s handling characteristics during the critical 12-second scooping maneuver. If successful, the FF72 could rapidly capture a substantial share of the global aerial firefighting market.

Sources: Positive Aviation