Rotorcraft
Battery-powered R44 Helicopter Flies
The tests are part of an effort to produce and electrically powered semi-autonomous helicopter for organ delivery.
The battery-powered R44 made several flights in September during which it accomplished hover, hover taxi and a record five-minute cruise flight to 400-feet altitude with a peak speed of 80 knots. (Photo: Tier 1 Engineering)
The battery-powered R44 made several flights in September during which it accomplished hover, hover taxi and a record five-minute cruise flight to 400-feet altitude with a peak speed of 80 knots. (Photo: Tier 1 Engineering)

Tier 1 Engineering flew a battery-powered, manned Robinson R44 in September at Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Calif. The flights were made under a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category issued by the FAA’s Los Angeles MIDO. The flights were part of a project under contract from Lung Biotechnology PBC to produce an electrically powered semi-autonomous rotorcraft for organ delivery (Epsarod). They were piloted by Ric Webb of OC Helicopters.