Aircraft
UrbanLink Plans to Add Orca Cargo Drones to Diverse Fleet
Hybrid-electric drone could support relief operations in Puerto Rico
Traverse Aero Orca cargo drone
Traverse Aero is developing the Orca cargo drone with a planned payload of 550 pounds and range of up to around 600 miles.

UrbanLink Air Mobility has added Traverse Aero’s hybrid-electric Orca eVTOL cargo drone to its planned fleet for a diverse array of advanced air mobility services. In late November, the South Florida-based start-up confirmed an agreement to buy 40 Orca vehicles, which are being developed by California-based Traverse Aero to carry up to 550 pounds of freight in standard cargo pallets.

The terms of the provisional order were not confirmed in a November 25 announcement and Traverse Aero has not said when it aims to complete type certification of the Orca. The aircraft is expected to have a range of around 600 miles, powered by batteries and an unspecificed turbine engine that the company said will be able to run on sustainable aviation fuel.