Lilium reports momentum on Lilium Jet commercial and test program, as KPMG-driven M&A process continues
Lilium has confirmed the KPMG-led M&A process aimed at delivering the company’s financial restructuring continues, adding its program is also building momentum towards the first manned flight of the Lilium Jet.
Following Lilium’s insolvency filing and the start of preliminary insolvency proceedings under self-administration, the M&A process for Lilium continues as planned. As previously reported, KPMG Deal Advisory team has been mandated to conduct an open, fair and transparent process.
Successful landing gear drop test
Lilium teams continue to make progress in aircraft development and testing activities. The Lilium Jet test campaign took an important step forward, with the successfully completed landing gear drop test.
The drop test is an essential part of the safety of flight program, conducted in alignment with EASA and a key requirement for manned flight of the Lilium Jet. The latest nose landing gear drop test was performed in November by MA Group at its facilities in Naples, Italy, witnessed by Lilium’s Compliance Verification Engineers, and counts for certification credit of the Lilium Jet.
Testing of the Lilium Jet’s ducted fan technology advanced, with several engines now built and being tested in parallel. Lilium engines have already accumulated several hours of cruise speed runtime, with around 10,000 data points being collected per second.
Lilium teams have also conducted testing of the propulsion vectoring system, including the servo actuator and servo control unit, as well as initial in-house trials of an engine blade detachment event, using a representative Lilium Jet propulsion mounting system and e-motor.
EASA recently carried out its second regular Lilium DOA audit which again confirmed that the Lilium organization is working in full compliance with EASA regulations.
Lilium begins roll-out of flight operations software
Lilium’s flight test team is currently working with UK aviation software specialist myairops to customize its software solution towards meeting Lilium’s upcoming flight test needs.
A software solution will now be implemented for management of flight and aircraft maintenance operations – including planning, scheduling, and tracking of flights, work order planning and maintenance event scheduling.
Lilium started collaborating with myairops in 2022, initially to support staff rostering, training management, and flight hour tracking for Lilium’s Phoenix technology demonstrator and flight simulators. The extended collaboration with myairops enables Lilium to offer flight software customized for electric air mobility directly to Lilium Jet purchasers.
Preliminary insolvency proceedings under self-administration are court-ordered restructuring proceedings aimed at preserving the business. The management remains in charge and leads the business through the proceedings, supported by restructuring experts.
Additional orders placed
The Ambitious Group (A.A.M.G), an executive eVTOL operator planning initial operations out of Marbella and Amsterdam, Netherlands, has entered into a binding sales agreement with Lilium for the purchase of eight Lilium Jets, with an option to acquire an additional six aircraft.
The purchase follows an initial Letter of Intent signed in March 2024 and reconfirms The Ambitious Group’s plans to provide electric air charter services, initially targeting markets in Southern Spain, Morocco and the Benelux region.
In a second phase, the plan is to implement charter services between the ABC Islands – Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao – in The Caribbean. The signing took place at Lilium’s headquarters in Gauting, near Munich, and was formalized by Robert Kamp, CEO of The Ambitious Group, and Klaus Roewe, CEO of Lilium. Implementation of the order is subject to Lilium’s successful return to solvency.
108 firm orders and reservations
Lilium’s order pipeline now totals 108 firm orders and reservations, 82 options, and nearly 600 aircraft under MOU.
In conjunction with the start of Lilium’s preliminary insolvency proceedings, ASL Group has canceled its reservation of six Lilium Jet deliveries. The two parties intend to reengage following a successful conclusion of Lilium’s financial restructuring.
