Microsoft's SkyDrive Initiates Showcasing test flights during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan
SkyDrive's SD-05 eVTOL Demonstration Flight at Expo 2025
SkyDrive, a Japanese eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, has made significant strides in the aviation industry with the successful demonstration of their SkyDrive Model SD-05 at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
The demonstration flight, which took place on a designated outdoor venue known as the EXPO Vertiport, marked a key development milestone for SkyDrive. The aircraft reached a height of 4 meters and lasted for 3 minutes, showcasing its operational stability and performance.
The SD-05, an uncrewed aircraft operated by remote control and stabilized using automatic control technology, began demonstration flights at Expo 2025 from April 2025. SkyDrive will continue to showcase the SD-05 with a series of further demonstration flights through to August 24. The aircraft will fly at the EXPO Vertiport every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during this period.
The EXPO Vertiport is located in the Mobility Experience Area in the northwest corner of the Expo venue. While there is no indoor viewing area, visitors can use the nearby rest area (Group Rest Area: West) and stay hydrated to avoid heatstroke.
SkyDrive's partnerships with Osaka Metro Company. Ltd. and Osaka City authorities aim to launch commercial eVTOL operations in Osaka's Morinomiya area from as early as 2028. The company is also collaborating with JR Kyushu Railway Company to develop eVTOL services in Kyushu from around 2028.
In a show of gratitude, SkyDrive's CEO, Tomohiro Fukuzawa, expressed his appreciation for the support received during the demonstration flight and emphasized the importance of flight safety for visitors at the Expo.
SkyDrive has secured important regulatory steps, having obtained a G-1 type certification basis from Japan’s JCAB in early 2025 and having their FAA application accepted in the U.S. in 2024. The company continues pursuing full certification compliance for safety and environmental standards with Japan’s MLIT. With production already underway at Suzuki’s Shizuoka plant, SkyDrive aims to achieve a manufacturing scale of about 100 eVTOL aircraft per year, moving beyond prototyping towards commercial availability.
Visitors are advised to arrive at the area around the EXPO Vertiport before the advertised flight time. Radio-emitting electronic devices, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled devices, should be switched to flight mode or turned off during the demonstration flights. It is important to follow safety instructions, as crowding is expected around the vertiport before, during, and after the demonstration flights. Please note that flights may be postponed or cancelled in the event of inclement weather or aircraft maintenance.
For further information on the SkyDrive demonstration flights, refer to the official EXPO 2025 Visitors app and SkyDrive's own social media. Planned services include tourist flights over Beppu Bay and air taxi routes linking destinations such as Beppu and Yufuin.
[1] Source: SkyDrive Press Release, March 2024 [2] Source: SkyDrive Press Release, April 2025 [3] Source: Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai Official Website [4] Source: Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) Website [5] Source: SkyDrive Press Release, June 2025
The excitement for SkyDrive's eVTOL aircraft, SD-05, extends beyond aviation to data-and-cloud-computing, as the aircraft is remotely controlled and stabilized using automatic control technology. Visitors at Expo 2025 can catch a glimpse of future gadgets, such as the SD-05, while exploring the EXPO Vertiport, where demonstration flights take place regularly.
