Deepinder Goyal Announces LAT Aerospace’s uSTOL Demo Nears Flight

Deepinder Goyal, CEO of Eternal, revealed on Thursday that the first technology demonstrator developed by LAT Aerospace is “almost ready for flight.” This announcement marks a significant advancement in LAT’s mission to create ultra-short take-off and landing (uSTOL) aircraft in India.

In a post shared on X, Goyal outlined the impressive progress made by LAT, which has designed a fully electric, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from scratch in a matter of months, supported by an in-house flight lab. He stated, “Our first uSTOL technology demonstrator is ready. We now have a fully electric, fixed-wing UAV built from scratch and almost ready for flight. Ground rolls done. As I type this, we are pushing hard to get the bird in the air. Hopefully it doesn’t blow up.”

The technology demonstrator boasts an ability to take off in just 40 metres, thanks to a high lift coefficient of 5, more than double that of most conventional aircraft. Additionally, the UAV offers a flight endurance of 60 minutes and an autonomous cruise range that can cover a distance comparable to that between Mumbai and Pune.

Advancements in Hybrid-Electric Propulsion

Alongside the development of the demonstrator, LAT Aerospace is also pursuing research into hybrid-electric propulsion systems. Goyal noted that the company is assembling a team to design its own gas turbine engines, describing this as “one of the hardest engineering challenges possible.” He expressed optimism that LAT aims to bring this technology to fruition by the end of the decade.

It is important to clarify that LAT Aerospace operates independently from Eternal. Earlier this year, The Economic Times reported that Goyal had invested USD 20 million into LAT Aerospace, which was founded by Surobhi Das, the former COO of Zomato. The startup aims to create low-cost STOL aircraft capable of carrying up to 24 seats, designed to operate from ultra-compact “air-stops” that are no larger than a parking lot.

In a LinkedIn post from June, Das explained the motivation behind LAT’s mission, highlighting India’s regional connectivity gap. Despite having over 450 airstrips, only about 150 currently accommodate commercial flights. She remarked, “Millions in Tier 2 and 3 cities spend hours—sometimes days—travelling by road or rail.”

Das envisions LAT’s aircraft as “buses in the sky,” providing affordable, high-frequency flights that connect urban centres with locations typically overlooked by traditional airlines. She emphasized, “Our aircraft will take off and land in compact air-stops built close to where people live. No chaos. No security lines. Just walk in and fly.”

As LAT Aerospace moves closer to achieving its ambitious goals, the implications for regional travel in India could be transformative, potentially addressing significant gaps in connectivity and accessibility for millions of citizens.