Skyfly Technologies has raised $10 million in seed funding to move its two-seat Axe electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft from prototype development towards certified production, with the company targeting customer deliveries in 2027.
The round was led by growth equity investor HICO Investment Group, with participation from defence technology fund Archangel. Skyfly said the capital will support certification of the Axe as a light-sport aircraft under the FAA’s MOSAIC regulations, enacted in July 2026, as well as production expansion in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Certification comes before deliveries
Skyfly said the prototype has completed more than 100 piloted flights. The company also said it has logged 61 private customer orders, although the announcement does not establish that those aircraft are covered by firm delivery contracts or specify when individual customers will receive them.
The 2027 target is therefore dependent on the certification programme and the transition to series production. The funding announcement describes the aircraft as moving towards certified production; it does not state that FAA approval has already been granted or that commercial deliveries have begun.
| Aircraft | Axe |
|---|---|
| Configuration | Two-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft |
| Propulsion | Eight fixed-angle electric motors |
| Cruising speed | 100 mph |
| Endurance | 60 to 90 minutes |
| Range | More than 100 miles |
| Payload | 200 kilograms |
“This investment gives us the resources to take the Axe from a flying prototype to a certified aircraft in customers’ hands.” — Michael Thompson, CEO of Skyfly
Winged design and wider programme
Skyfly says the Axe uses a winged configuration rather than a pure rotorcraft layout. Its eight motors are fixed in position, avoiding tilting mechanisms, while the wing provides conventional aerodynamic lift during forward flight. The company gives the aircraft a cruising speed of 100 mph, endurance of 60 to 90 minutes, range of more than 100 miles and a payload capacity of 200 kilograms.
The new financing is also intended to fund the company’s Longbow programme. Longbow is described as an unmanned hybrid-electric aircraft for cargo transport, reconnaissance and medical evacuation, with a targeted range of more than 400 miles. Skyfly has not said that Longbow has entered certification or production.
- Funding: $10 million seed round led by HICO Investment Group
- Certification path: FAA light-sport aircraft certification under the MOSAIC regulations
- Production: planned capacity expansion across the UK and US
- Commercial position: 61 private customer orders logged and deliveries planned for 2027
The company’s immediate focus is certification and manufacturing readiness. That places the stated delivery timetable alongside the regulatory and industrial steps still required before the Axe can enter customer service.
