Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Textron, Merlin Unveil Uncrewed SkyCourier Concept
Design study swaps the cockpit for a nose cargo door
Cessna SkyCourier UX Render
The Cessna SkyCourier UX concept would load cargo through a hinged nose door. © Merlin/Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation and Merlin unveiled a concept on Monday for an autonomous cargo airplane based on the Cessna SkyCourier, proposing to replace the cockpit with a nose cargo door and hand flying duties to Merlin’s autonomy software. The companies have produced a design study of what they are calling the Cessna SkyCourier UX and displayed a model at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on September 14.

Boston-based Merlin would supply Merlin Pilot, the autonomous flight system it has flown on Cessna Caravans and Beechcraft King Airs. Textron Aviation would supply the airframe, a turboprop twin that the FAA certified in 2022 and FedEx feeder on short cargo routes, among other roles. The companies have not named a customer or set a timeline for building one.