Nimbus Aerospace concluded its first test flights of a quarter-scale hybrid-electric aircraft prototype in Oregon this month, demonstrating progress in an industry where many startups have faced early setbacks. The Seattle-based company completed two test flights of its NX1 model—one lasting 3 minutes and 42 seconds and another for 6 minutes—at the Pendleton Airport UAS Range. These flights confirmed the prototype’s manufacturing quality and aerodynamic performance.
The 15-foot wingspan, 200-pound prototype serves as a scaled-down version of Nimbus’s planned six- to eight-passenger aircraft, designed for a 1,500-mile range while consuming half the fuel of comparable conventional planes. The startup’s hybrid-electric design specifically targets commercial regional flights, where efficiency and lower operating costs are top priorities.
Testing delays arose from a shortage of pilots with experience in remote-controlled flight. Adrian Groos, co-founder and CEO, explained that the $1 million-plus prototype was far larger and heavier than most drones pilots typically fly. The successful flights now open the door for engineering work on a full-scale prototype, with test flights planned for 2028.
Nimbus is adopting a cautious approach to certification, steering clear of overly experimental designs that could hinder FAA approval. The company incorporates pre-certified components, such as landing gear and lighting, while concentrating innovation on its hybrid powertrain. A former FAA deputy director of aircraft certification now advises the team, and Nimbus has developed an AI Certification Tool (ACT) Platform to simplify regulatory compliance.
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Groos clarified that the focus is not on radical redesigns but on solving practical problems: reduced fuel use and lower maintenance demands. Aviation currently contributes 2.5% of annual greenhouse gas emissions, and this share is expected to rise as other industries cut their carbon output. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains the primary solution for larger aircraft, but hybrid-electric and battery-powered systems are becoming more viable for smaller planes.
Nimbus is not alone in pursuing electric aviation, but it distinguishes itself amid recent industry setbacks. Zunum Aero, Outbound Aerospace, and ZeroAvia have scaled back operations or shut down in Washington state, while Universal Hydrogen ceased operations entirely in 2024 after testing hydrogen-powered aircraft in nearby Moses Lake. Groos pointed to limited hydrogen availability and unproven certification pathways as major obstacles. Competitors such as Heart Aerospace, Electra.aero, and Ampaire continue operations, but Nimbus’s hybrid approach avoids some of the technical challenges tied to all-electric or hydrogen systems.
The company has not yet decided where to build its full-scale prototype, weighing options including Seattle against other locations. Nimbus has secured about $4 million from an unnamed family office and plans to add six more engineers in the next year. The NX1 prototype will move to a hangar at Pendleton Airport, where it will be displayed alongside the Airbus Vahana eVTOL, another experimental electric aircraft.
The startup’s roadmap remains aggressive, with first customer deliveries targeted for late 2030. Achieving this timeline will require balancing innovation with practical execution, a challenge few predecessors have overcome.