Skyryse Ramps Up Automated Flight Tests with Robinson R66 Helicopter

Skyryse Ramps Up Automated Flight Tests with R66 Helo

Skyryse has kicked off a flight-test campaign for its FlightOS highly-automated flight control system on a Robinson R66 helicopter.

R66 helicopter with Skyryse FlightOS — Skyryse has kicked off a flight-test campaign for its FlightOS automatic flight control system on a Robinson R66 helicopter. (Photo: Skyryse)

By Hanneke Weitering • Science & Technology Editor

June 29, 2023

Skyryse has kicked off a flight-test campaign for its FlightOS highly-automated flight control system that could improve safety and reduce pilot workload for rotorcraft and airplanes. The California-based startup has been testing its FlightOS system in a Robinson R44 light helicopter since 2018 and on an R66 testbed since last year. Now the company has launched a full flight-test campaign using the R66, the first aircraft for which it plans to obtain a supplemental type certificate (STC) for FlightOS from the FAA.

According to Skyryse, it is now conducting daily flights with the R66 testbed with production-representative versions of the FlightOS flight control system, as well as the full suite of sensors that provide real-time situational awareness. While the company’s R44 testbed maintained its traditional manual controls, all of the mechanical controls on the R66 have now been replaced with the FlightOS system.

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