Dufour Aerospace reports its Aero-200 cargo drone can carry a 20 kg payload over 200 km during a flight campaign in its Zurich-based test facility, validating various improvements to the propulsion system and aircraft structure.
“While productionization efforts on the series aircraft are finalizing, this performance enables operators to support critical cargo operations, including medical resupply, industrial spare parts delivery, emergency response, and the transport of high-value equipment,” said the company in a press release. “It also marks an important step in validating the operational capability required for future commercial deployment.”
According to the company, the Aero-200 is the first civilian hybrid-electric tilt-wing eVTOL platform to achieve this milestone. During various missions from Dübendorf Airfield, the flight campaign demonstrated the range, endurance, and payload capability required for long-range logistics missions where conventional transport is constrained by time, distance, or infrastructure. The Aero-200 configuration allows for an operation of 200 km with a payload of 20 kg at sea level in 33°C temperature.
“This flight campaign illustrates the profound potential the Aero-200 has for long-range missions carrying critical cargo or high-value sensors,” said Timon Wehmann, Chief Engineer at Dufour Aerospace. “For a vertical takeoff and landing drone in this category, navigating this distance while maintaining flawless stability throughout continuous maneuvering is a remarkable achievement. We are very pleased with the results, and I am especially pleased that we were able to validate the team’s hard work.”
Recent other milestones have shown that progress extends well beyond the aircraft itself, said the company. Earlier this year, Dufour Aerospace successfully conducted guidance flights in Sweden, with the aircraft controlled entirely from its Remote Control Room (RCR) in Dübendorf, Switzerland. “The demonstration validated a key operational capability by separating the platform’s operating area from the operator’s location, an essential step toward routine BVLOS drone operations.”
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(Image: Dufour)