Lilium System Testing. Foto: Lilium
Lilium, the Munich-based manufacturer of electric air taxis has successfully completed the first phase of integration tests of the Lilium Jet’s electric drive system in the company’s specially designed laboratory. The completion of the tests is an important milestone on the way to approval under flight conditions and type certification of the Lilium Jet. As the first two Lilium Jets take shape on the production line, engineers are already verifying the aircraft’s core powertrain functions required for certification under EASA’s SC-VTOL regulations.
The new electric drive systems laboratory is located at Lilium’s headquarters as part of the company’s test campus on the outskirts of Munich. The Electrical Power Systems Laboratory recreates the Lilium Jet powertrain in a controlled test environment. The laboratory also includes low-voltage systems that power the aircraft’s avionics and cabin systems, onboard energy isolation units that prevent the release of dangerous energy, and a functioning charging station.
Using customized software, Lilium engineers create flight profiles, carry out tests and collect the relevant data in real time. The data collected serves as evidence for aviation authorities to demonstrate the aircraft’s safety and compliance with type certification requirements.
The laboratory, which also provides a safe environment for introducing errors and demonstrating the system’s robustness to failures, was designed and built in collaboration with Italian supplier EN4, a specialist in advanced testing solutions for the aerospace, automotive industries , the railway and industrial applications. For the test environment, Lilium and EN4 made extensive use of state-of-the-art software and hardware from NI, formerly National Instruments.
Stephen Vellacott, Chief Technology Officer of Lilium, said: “With the completion of the first phase of electrical power integration and verification testing in our dedicated laboratory, we have once again reached a key milestone in the development of the Lilium Jet. In this new lab, we test flights, charging and simulate failure scenarios to ensure our powertrain meets strict aviation safety and reliability standards. From first flight to certification and product launch, the laboratory allows us to demonstrate that our aircraft will be a world-leading product.”
Gianluca Franchi, EN4 Business Development Director, said: We are proud to have worked with Lilium to build this state-of-the-art test bed, designed to provide long-term support for the Lilium Jet through certification and beyond. Thanks to NI test and measurement technologies, we were able to provide a comprehensive solution for Lilium’s electrical power systems laboratory, ensuring extremely high accuracy of measurements while maintaining the operational flexibility necessary for a dynamic sector such as electrical Air mobility is essential.”
In parallel, Lilium continues the production of the first Lilium Jets, which will be used as part of the Lilium Jet type certification program. The first Lilium jet will be used exclusively for ground testing and the second jet will be used for the first manned flight. From 2015 to the present, Lilium has produced several generations of technology demonstrators through which it has tested and refined the key technological subsystems for the Lilium Jet. Since 2022, two of Lilium’s Phoenix test aircraft, a full-size 5-seat aircraft representative of the flight physics and technology of the Lilium jet, have undergone extensive flight testing in Spain, including the full transition from vertical to horizontal flight and a Cruising speed of 136 knots (250 km/h).
