LAT Aerospace Successfully Demonstrates Ultra-Short Takeoff Flight Despite Prototype Crash

LAT Aerospace, the aviation startup founded by Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal, has achieved a significant milestone in its development journey by successfully demonstrating ultra-short takeoff and landing (uSTOL) capabilities with its first prototype aircraft. The test flight of the Lat One v0.1 prototype accomplished its primary technical objective, despite the aircraft crashing shortly after takeoff due to structural issues that the development team had anticipated.

Goyal shared footage of the test flight on X (formerly Twitter), describing the achievement as a major step forward for the company. He explained that while the crash was expected based on their simulations, which had identified structural defects, the main goal of validating uSTOL technology was successfully accomplished. The Zomato co-founder emphasized that "making a plane take off is only 20% of the problem," with safe landing representing the greater engineering challenge.

Company Foundation and Vision

LAT Aerospace was established in January 2025 through a partnership between Goyal and Surobhi Das, a former Zomato executive. The startup is focused on developing a new category of Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft specifically designed to operate from compact 'air-stops' rather than requiring traditional airport infrastructure.

Prototype Specifications and Capabilities

The Lat One v0.1 prototype represents a fully in-house development effort, with the aircraft designed, built, and assembled at LAT Aerospace's flight laboratory established earlier this year. The electric demonstrator showcases impressive technical specifications for autonomous short-haul operations.

Development Roadmap and Future Plans

The company is already advancing to the next phase of development with Lat One v0.2, which aims to complete a full mission cycle including safe landing. This iterative approach demonstrates LAT Aerospace's commitment to systematic testing and improvement of their aircraft design.

Beyond the current electric prototype, LAT Aerospace has outlined ambitious expansion plans for their technology platform. The company is developing hybrid-electric propulsion systems designed to extend both range and payload capacity for future manned STOL aircraft. In a notable move toward vertical integration, Goyal announced that the company is assembling a specialized team to design gas turbine engines in-house—an uncommon undertaking for a young aerospace startup.

Technical Achievement and Learning Outcomes

Despite the prototype crash, Goyal emphasized the valuable learning experience gained from the test flight. The successful demonstration of uSTOL capabilities validates the core technology concept, while the anticipated structural failure provides crucial data for improving the next iteration. The founder noted that the team "learnt so much from this experience" and expressed confidence that they "will come out better and stronger" from the testing process.

The test flight represents a significant step toward LAT Aerospace's goal of revolutionizing short-haul aviation through compact takeoff and landing capabilities, positioning the company to potentially transform regional transportation and logistics operations.