- What it is: A two‑seat, fully electric pre‑series eVTOL multicopter used as Volocopter’s primary flight‑test and demo platform—not the commercial model. Figures and features below refer to the 2X test series. volocopter.com
- Configuration: 18 fixed rotors driven by 18 electric motors, powered by nine independent, quick‑swap lithium‑ion battery packs (each battery feeds two motors). OVANS
- Performance (April 2017 spec): MTOM 450 kg; payload 160 kg; range ~27 km, max flight time ~27 min, max speed ~100 km/h, service ceiling ≥2,000 m; noise ~65 dB(A) at 75 m. OVANS
- Charging & ops: Max charge <120 min; fast charge <40 min; quick‑change battery system and active air cooling. OVANS
- Safety architecture: Triple‑redundant primary flight‑control unit plus dissimilar backup, fly‑by‑light (polymer optical‑fiber) data network, extensive sensor suite, and a full‑aircraft emergency parachute. OVANS
- Milestone flights: Public demo in Dubai (autonomous, 25 Sep 2017), Singapore (crewed, Marina Bay, 22 Oct 2019), and New York City (crewed, Downtown Heliport, 13–14 Nov 2023). Avionics International
- Where it fits: 2X remains a testbed; VoloCity is the follow‑on production aircraft targeting EASA SC‑VTOL “Enhanced” certification. volocopter.com
Figures are from Volocopter’s official 2X design specification (April 2017) and the Vertical Flight Society’s eVTOL profile for the 2X. OVANS
What is the Volocopter 2X?
The Volocopter 2X is a two‑seat, battery‑electric multicopter designed to de‑risk and demonstrate Volocopter’s urban air mobility concept. It’s not the certified commercial model; rather, it is the company’s pre‑series flight‑test platform that feeds lessons directly into the VoloCity program. Volocopter states explicitly that the pre‑series 2X continues to serve as the testing and development platform for the UAM ecosystem, while VoloCity is the aircraft intended for commercial service. volocopter.com
Design & safety architecture
At the heart of the 2X is distributed electric propulsion (DEP): 18 independent motors and rotors arranged on a ring supported by six Y‑shaped arms. Power comes from nine independent battery packs (each battery powers two motors), a layout that preserves control authority even after certain single‑point failures. The flight‑control stack combines a triple‑redundant primary computer with a dissimilar backup computer; control data moves over a polymer optical‑fiber network (“fly‑by‑light”) to mitigate electrical interference. If all else fails, a ballistic rescue parachute provides a last‑resort safety layer. OVANS
Performance, noise & practicality
According to Volocopter’s April 2017 design spec, the 2X targets ~27 km range, ~27 minutes endurance, and ~100 km/h maximum speed, with a payload of 160 kg at a 450 kg MTOM. The airframe is composite, uses skid landing gear, and is specified for a service ceiling of ≥2,000 m. Company documentation cites an overflight noise level of ~65 dB(A) at 75 m, markedly lower than conventional helicopters in urban contexts. Batteries are fast‑chargable (<40 min) and quick‑swappable, enabling short turnarounds during demos. OVANS
What experts and regulators say
- Alexander Zosel (Volocopter co‑founder) hailed the 2017 Dubai demo as the start of something bigger: “A new era of public transport has begun today.” That flight helped put autonomous eVTOL on the map for city leaders. volocopter.com
- Florian Reuter (then‑CEO, Volocopter) called the 2019 Marina Bay sortie “the most advanced Volocopter flight yet,” underscoring growing maturity in complex urban settings. Vertical Mag
- Mike Hirschberg (Executive Director, Vertical Flight Society) described EASA’s SC‑VTOL rules as “a major step forward for certification of eVTOL vehicles,” while also warning of the challenges of a brand‑new category. This is the certification landscape the VoloCity (not 2X) must meet. vtol.org
- Tan Kah Han (Senior Director, Unmanned Systems, CAAS) emphasized regulator–industry co‑development in Singapore, saying the goal is to “co‑create regulations and technologies” to enable future UAM services. volocopter.com
- Patrick Ky (then Executive Director, EASA) called granting Volocopter Design Organisation Approval (DOA) “a milestone for the industry,” signaling that the company’s processes met stringent European standards. Vertical Mag
Milestone flights that proved the concept
- Dubai (25 Sep 2017) — The 2X performed an autonomous public demo witnessed by Dubai’s Crown Prince, showcasing the feasibility of self‑flying air taxis and catalyzing the UAE’s long‑term effort to integrate AAM. Hamdan
- Singapore (22 Oct 2019) — A crewed 2X flew over Marina Bay after local environmental and flight tests; the event also previewed the VoloPort prototype, an eVTOL vertiport concept. volocopter.com
- Oshkosh, USA (Jul 2021) — The 2X flew a demonstration at EAA AirVenture, further acclimating U.S. audiences to multicopter operations. AOPA
- New York City (13–14 Nov 2023) — The 2X completed crewed exhibition flights at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, part of NYC’s push to electrify the facility for quiet, zero‑tailpipe‑emission aircraft. volocopter.com
Certification path and the 2X–VoloCity hand‑off
From a regulatory perspective, 2X is a demonstrator; VoloCity is the aircraft aimed at commercial service under EASA SC‑VTOL (Enhanced), which demands “continued safe flight and landing” after a single failure—stringent airliner‑level safety targets for operations over dense cities. EASA has published successive Means of Compliance documents that flesh out how developers can show compliance. The 2X’s role is to generate data and operational learning to help VoloCity clear those bars. volocopter.com
Volocopter’s Design Organisation Approval (2019) and later Production Organisation Approval (2021) established a certified design/production framework—another reason its demos are closely watched by regulators. volocopter.com
The business context in 2025
After filing for insolvency in Dec 2024, Volocopter was acquired in Mar 2025 by Diamond Aircraft (Wanfeng Group). Diamond and press reports said the move would preserve core engineering, consolidate operations, and keep the VoloCity certification push alive. The 2X remains the fielded test asset for flight demos while the commercial program advances under new ownership. CompositesWorld
Strengths, limitations, and what comes next
Strengths: The 2X proved key tenets of urban eVTOL—redundancy‑rich DEP, low overflight noise, and repeatable operations in real city airspace. Fast charging and quick‑swap batteries reduced turnaround time during demos. OVANS
Limitations: With ~27 km range and ~27 minutes endurance, the 2X is inherently a short‑hop vehicle; it was never meant for commercial service or sale to private owners. Its purpose is to burn down technical and regulatory risk and inform the certified follow‑on aircraft. OVANS
What’s next: The baton passes to VoloCity, designed from the outset to meet SC‑VTOL Enhanced requirements. Success for VoloCity would validate much of what 2X demonstrated on three continents. volocopter.com
Specs & systems (deeper dive)
- Airframe: Carbon‑fiber composite cabin with skid gear; rotor ring diameter ~9.15 m; individual propellers ~1.80 m. OVANS
- Propulsion: 18 BLDC electric motors; nine independent batteries (quick‑release) supplying two motors each; active air cooling. OVANS
- Avionics & control: Fly‑by‑light optical‑fiber data network; triple‑redundant primary flight‑control unit + dissimilar backup; one‑hand joystick control; continuous high‑rate data recording. OVANS
- Autonomy features (project options): Remote control, GPS point tracking, sense‑and‑avoid, integration with UTM/ATM—elements exercised in various trials and demonstrations. OVANS
Why the 2X matters
The 2X’s city demos—in Dubai, Singapore, Oshkosh, and New York—moved eVTOL from concept to something citizens and policymakers could see and hear. Those flights, plus the company’s DOA/POA milestones and EASA’s evolving SC‑VTOL framework, are why industry leaders call this era a turning point for urban air mobility. EASA
Sources & further reading
- Official specs: Design specifications Volocopter 2X (April 2017). (e‑volo/Volocopter). OVANS
- Independent profile: Vertical Flight Society, Volocopter 2X overview. eVTOL News
- Dubai 2017 demo (autonomous): Volocopter press release; Dubai Crown Prince coverage. volocopter.com
- Singapore 2019 demo (crewed): Volocopter press release; Vertical/PRNewswire coverage. volocopter.com
- NYC 2023 demo (crewed): Volocopter press release; Aviation Today coverage. volocopter.com
- EASA SC‑VTOL context: VFS commentary by Mike Hirschberg; EASA MOC documents. vtol.org
- Regulatory collaboration (Singapore): CAAS/Volocopter statement. volocopter.com
- Company DOA/POA milestones: Volocopter announcements and trade press. volocopter.com
- 2025 corporate reorganization: Aviation Week, AIN, and CompositesWorld reports on Diamond/Wanfeng acquisition. Aviation Week
