Overview
- Florida announced in mid‑August that SunTrax Air in Auburndale, Polk County, will serve as the primary test site for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and that active test flights are planned before the end of 2026.
- The state says the SunTrax campus has been expanded for advanced air mobility and now includes two vertiports, large hangars reported at about 20,000 square feet, and high‑speed cargo platforms to support eVTOL trials.
- Governor Ron DeSantis’s office reported a special FAA designation to help coordinate integration with federal regulators, though full federal certification, operator partnerships and commercial pricing remain to be completed.
- Officials describe intended uses that include on‑demand passenger shuttles, cargo delivery, medical transport and emergency response, and they cite initial eVTOL ranges around 100 miles with electric propulsion aimed at quieter, lower‑emission flights.
- The program pairs testing infrastructure with workforce training and state investments intended to attract manufacturing and aerospace jobs, while authorities say routine commercial service will depend on the outcome of technical trials and federal approvals.