Californian startup Pivotal is opening the world to the possibilities of personal aviation with its light electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Helix. The company is taking advantage of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE® platform to support its vertical design-to-manufacturing approach and bring its first production aircraft to market. It uses the Reinvent the Sky industry solution experience to design, engineer and manufacture its innovative eVTOL. 

The eVTOL brings personal aviation to more adventurers

Flying the Helix feels like stepping into the future of personal aviation. Roughly the size of a small car, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, built by Silicon Valley startup Pivotal, combines the thrill of flight with a seamless, safe and user-friendly experience – no pilot’s license required. Unlike aircraft with tilt-wing and tilt-rotor designs, the Pivotal Helix achieves vertical takeoff and landing by rotating the entire aircraft. The Helix effortlessly transitions into forward flight, making it perfect for short trips (under 20 miles) over rivers, lakes, hills or the remote countryside. For those lucky enough to take the controls, Helix gives them a front-row seat to a new era in aviation, where high-tech meets adventure.

Driven by a passion for flying, Marcus Leng, Pivotal’s founder, envisioned bringing personal aviation to the masses through a new generation of aircraft. He built the first eVTOL prototype, SkyKar Rebel, in his basement. After years of refining the technology, accumulating tens of thousands of flight miles, and securing the first consumer sales, the company is winning awards for its innovative design and shaping a future where the skies are open to more people than ever before.

“Year by year, we’ve accomplished many firsts in the eVTOL space, from the first crewed hover to the first 10-mile journey,” said Kristina Menton, head of Flight at Pivotal. “In 2018, I became one of the select few to fly the Pivotal BlackFly, which was a truly remarkable experience. Leading up to this, we spent months in safety review board meetings ensuring the technology was thoroughly vetted. There’s no other company out there doing what we are at this level.”

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https://www.3ds.com/insights/customer-stories/pivotal-personal-aviation