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Historic Lilium Phoenix eVTOL prototypes preserved in German aviation museums
Two of Lilium's pioneering eVTOL Phoenix prototypes have been rescued from scrapping and relocated to Berlin and Wernigerode museums for public display.
The gist
Original Lilium Phoenix eVTOL prototypes saved from destruction, now showcased in German museums preserving eVTOL history.
Continuing coverage
All Evtol →The innovative electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) designs developed by German firm Lilium have taken a significant step toward preservation after the company’s insolvency in late 2024. Robert Gardemin spearheaded efforts to save the original Phoenix scaled prototypes, which represent an ambitious chapter in the burgeoning eVTOL sector. These aircraft, once slated for disposal, have been secured through a successful crowdfunding campaign and transferred to German aviation museums for restoration and exhibition.
Lilium's insolvency announcement in October 2024 marked a setback for its advanced air mobility vision, with no suitable buyer emerging for its assets. The company’s Phoenix test aircraft, instrumental in years of developmental work that engaged more than a thousand personnel, were at risk of being lost. Gardemin's initiative raised approximately €10,000 (equivalent to $11,600), allowing the physical artifacts of this pioneering program to be preserved rather than scrapped.
The Phoenix prototypes had completed early test flights in Spain, with the Phoenix 2 model accumulating nearly 200 flight hours in uncrewed operations. This flight experience offers valuable data demonstrating the technology’s feasibility and progress at the time. By preserving these test articles, the museums safeguard tangible evidence of the innovative engineering achievements that fueled Germany’s eVTOL ambitions.
Currently housed at the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin and the Luftfahrtmuseum Wernigerode in Saxony Anhalt, the Phoenix aircraft are undergoing reassembly. This ensures that museum visitors will have access to physical representations of eVTOL development, illustrating a key transition in urban air mobility technology. The restored prototypes will serve as educational exhibits that highlight the technological challenges and breakthroughs of electric aviation’s early era.
Lilium’s Phoenix program was among the most ambitious electric aircraft initiatives in Germany, reflecting broader industry trends toward zero-emission, vertical lift solutions aimed at revolutionizing urban transport. Though the company was unable to continue operations, the preserved aircraft are an important part of documenting the sector’s history. Their survival allows the public and industry observers to examine the design and scale of early eVTOL platforms.
The successful crowdfunding and subsequent museum transfers underscore a community and enthusiast commitment to preserving aerospace heritage, which can often be erased when companies exit the market. By rescuing these aircraft, Gardemin and supporters have prevented a complete physical loss of the technology and opened the way for reflection on the early challenges in eVTOL development.
These prototypes represent a crucial technical milestone: they embody the transition from conceptual electric VTOL concepts to tangible flyable craft with documented flight hours. Museum exhibits featuring working prototypes enable a deeper understanding of the evolving technology landscape in sustainable aviation. Preserving such artifacts ensures lessons learned and inspirations generated endure for future innovators.
Lilium’s insolvency reflects the volatility of the emerging advanced air mobility sector, where many startups face financial and technical hurdles before reaching commercial viability. However, the Phoenix prototypes stand as testimony to the scale of investment, effort, and innovation that characterized the early phase of electrically powered vertical flight. By safeguarding these aircraft, German aviation museums contribute to chronicling the sector’s developmental history.
Visitors to the Deutsches Technikmuseum and Luftfahrtmuseum Wernigerode will soon have the opportunity to witness up close one of Germany’s most ambitious efforts in electric aviation. This curation extends beyond mere artifact preservation; it offers a narrative of aerospace innovation at a time of intense transformation. The Phoenix prototypes thus serve as physical bookmarks in the ongoing story of sustainable urban air mobility.
Frequently asked questions
- What happened to Lilium's original Phoenix eVTOL prototypes after the company's insolvency?
- After Lilium filed for insolvency in October 2024, the Phoenix test aircraft were saved from being scrapped through a crowdfunding campaign and transferred to German museums for preservation and public display.
- How much flight testing had the Phoenix prototypes completed?
- One of the prototypes, Phoenix 2, had logged nearly 200 flight hours during uncrewed test flights conducted in Spain before being retired from testing.
- Where are the Phoenix eVTOL prototypes now located?
- They have been moved to the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin and the Luftfahrtmuseum Wernigerode in Saxony Anhalt, where they are being reassembled for museum exhibition.
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