Computer graphics of thousands of eVTOLs streaming through the air around futuristic skyscrapers have investors sinking billions worldwide on urban air mobility startups. But the next big change in aviation may could already be happening outside of cities, in the regional market. It will use aircraft that are familiar and share design charactristics and technology with small turboprop airplanes first developed 50 years ago.

Electric aircraft developers are restricted by current propulsion and battery technology to smaller aircraft. They are therefore targeting regional markets first, which can support such aircraft. Companies such as France’s Aura Aero and VoltAero, Sweden’s Heart Aerospace, Ampaire and Eviation in the USA are developing hybrid and all-electric aircraft that will carry between six and 25 passengers or several tonnes of cargo, with ranges that vary between a hundred up to 500 miles 160-800km).