GKN to Provide Electrical System for Lilium Air Taxi

GKN Aerospace Services Ltd. is partnering with Lilium N.V., which is developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet for air taxi applications, one of the hottest segments of the aerospace industry. GKN is producing the electrical wiring interconnect system (EWIS) at is factory in the Netherlands. In addition to building the EWIS hardware sets, GKN will support Lilium with on-site installation into the Lilium Jet at its assembly plant in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.

The scope of the collaboration covers the integrated design of the low-voltage and high-voltage electrical interconnections of the Lilium Jet. This includes integration of all wire bundles in the aircraft; integration of the electrical EWIS components into operational systems; and development of innovative high-voltage interconnection systems.

“We are delighted to partner with Lilium,” says John Pritchard, president of civil airframe business at GKN Aerospace. “This collaboration provides a great opportunity to leverage and build on the capabilities each company brings. Companies like Lilium will be delivering the solutions that will enable passengers to travel sustainably and help deliver net zero carbon by 2050. We’re proud to be on board and helping that reality come to life with our advanced technology.”

“We’re proud to have brought another outstanding aerospace player onto the Lilium Jet team,” adds Yves Yemsi, CEO of Lilium. “GKN Aerospace has enormous experience developing certifiable EWIS systems and impressed us with their dedicated offering for the Lilium Jet. We are looking forward to driving ahead on our program with GKN Aerospace at our side.”

Lilium has also partnered with a variety of suppliers, including Collins Aerospace, Customcells, Denso and Honeywell. The Lilium Jet is currently undergoing wind tunnel testing, with the first manned flight scheduled to take place some time next year.

Austin has been senior editor for ASSEMBLY Magazine since September 1999. He has more than 21 years of b-to-b publishing experience and has written about a wide variety of manufacturing and engineering topics. Austin is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

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