2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Helicopter operator has reserved 15 of the hybrid-electric cargo drones

Bristow Triples Early-delivery Chaparral Reservations

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Hybrid-electric Chaparral drone makes first uncrewed eIPP flights

Elroy Air, Bristow Fly Autonomous Freighter in Louisiana

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Contract covers jam-resistant navigation and hardened communications links

Elroy Air Wins $46 Million Army Contract for Chaparral

Charles Alcock

Elroy Air plans fourth-quarter public listing via SPAC

Kratos To Build Chaparral Cargo VTOL in Sacramento

Program enables early commercial operations to inform future FAA rules

FAA eVTOL Integration Pilot Program Flips the Script on Certification

Kerry Lynch

Archer, Wisk, Beta, Joby, and others to take part in nationwide trials

DOT Selects Eight Projects for AAM Integration Trials

The Chaparral aircraft heads to the Arizona desert in July 

U.S. Marines Will Evaluate Elroy's Autonomous Resupply Drone

Elroy Air’s autonomous eVTOL cargo aircraft&nbsp;has flown&nbsp;for the first time, the California-based aircraft developer announced on November 16. &nbsp;The hybrid-electric Chaparral C1 prototype performed its inaugural flight on November 12, taking off vertically from the company’s flight test operations center at Byron Airport, just east of San Francisco. It successfully landed without incident after a 57-second hover flight.&nbsp;
“This is an exhilarating day for our team and the industry as a whole,” said Elroy co-founder and CEO Dave Merrill. “On Sunday our Chaparral C1 became the first turbogenerator-hybrid electric hVTOL aircraft to take flight. This marks a major moment for the industry, as hybrid-electric aircraft enable the dual benefits of runway-independent safe redundant propulsion and long-range flight well in excess of battery power alone.”
The Chaparral aircraft is designed to carry 300 to 500 pounds (136 to 227&nbsp;kilograms) of cargo to a range of up to 300 miles (480 kilometers). It&nbsp;features a fixed wing with 12 propellers and a distributed electric propulsion system, which is powered by batteries and a 150-kilowatt turbogenerator. The gas turbine recharges the batteries during flight, extending the aircraft’s range and eliminating the need to recharge the aircraft in between missions. Elroy&nbsp;has been flying with technology demonstrators since 2019 and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-26/elroy-announces-launch-customers-autonomous-chaparral-vtol-aircraft">unveiled the Chaparral C1 pre-production prototype</a> in January 2022.&nbsp;
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The company says its autonomous vehicle will transform air cargo services, not only because it can fly without a pilot on board, but also because it can drop off and pick up cargo robotically in a matter of minutes without any interaction with a human operator. The company has designed a modular cargo pod for its automated cargo-handling system, and it is working with <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-28/fedex-test-autonomous-drone-cargo-delivery-elroy-air">FedEx Express</a> to test the concept for middle-mile logistics.&nbsp;
In addition to FedEx, Elroy has signed agreements with several prospective customers interested in using the Chaparral aircraft for commercial, military, and humanitarian operations. The company claims to have an order backlog worth more than $3 billion, and many of those orders are already backed by cash deposits. Customers include helicopter operator <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-07-12/bristow-commits-ordering-100-chaparral-vtol-freighters-elroy-air">Bristow</a>, aircraft leasing group <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-01-11/lci-add-elroy-air-chaparral-evtol-aircraft-lease-portfolio">LCI</a>, and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-01-26/elroy-announces-launch-customers-autonomous-chaparral-vtol-aircraft">Mesa Airlines</a>. The company aims to make its first deliveries to Bristow in 2025.&nbsp;
Elroy has also received some funding from contracts with the U.S. Air Force, and the company recently demonstrated its autonomous cargo delivery system <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2fuCqyAYn8&amp;ab_channel=ElroyAir">at Travis Air Force Base</a> in California.

Science & Technology Editor

Elroy Air's Chaparral eVTOL Prototype Makes First Flight

Leasing group LCI has agreed to add up to 40 of Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous eVTOL aircraft to its lease portfolio. Under the firm order announced on January 11, the Ireland-based company has paid an undisclosed deposit to acquire 20 examples of the vehicle, with options for another 20. 
LCI sees the hybrid-electric <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/chaparral">Chaparral</a>—which will have a payload of around 500 pounds and a range of 300 nm—being used for cargo delivery, as well as applications including disaster relief, firefighting, and humanitarian operations. The design features a cargo pod installed beneath the fuselage.
According to LCI, the eVTOL vehicle will complement its existing fleet of&nbsp;helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The announcement did not confirm a projected date for first deliveries to the lessor, but California-based Elroy Air has previously said that it aims to have the Chaparral certified under FAA's Special Class 21.17 (b) rules and ready to start commercial operations by the end of 2023 with civil launch customer Bristow, which in July 2022 provisionally agreed to add 100 eVTOLs to its mainly&nbsp;rotorcraft fleet.
The <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-18/elroy-air-makes-case-chaparrals-transformation-air-cargo-services">California-based start-up </a>says it now has a backlog of orders for 900 aircraft with a combined value of more than $2 billion. That figure implies a unit price per aircraft of around $2.2 million, which would value the deal with LCI at just over $88 million.
“We are experiencing an enthusiastic response to the Chapparal and its capabilities to serve as a key part of a safe, efficient, and capable fleet of aircraft to respond in emergency situations, keep pilots out of harm’s way, and enable rapid logistics in a new and sustainable way,” said Elroy Air co-founder and CEO David Merrill. “Through our agreement with LCI, the Chaparral will be available for financing, enabling much broader access to the aircraft.”
While it is being designed to fly autonomously, the Chapparal can also be piloted remotely if necessary to comply with local aviation authorities. Its design features a high wing with eight vertical lift rotors and four forward-facing propellers for cruise flight. A 150-kilowatt&nbsp;gas turbine will generate power&nbsp;for the propulsion system and charge the battery during flight, eliminating the downtime otherwise needed to recharge batteries between flights.
Elroy Air is already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-28/fedex-test-autonomous-drone-cargo-delivery-elroy-air">working with FedEx</a> to start testing the&nbsp;Chaparral autonomous air cargo system for moving shipments between sorting locations, the company announced earlier this year. FedEx plans to begin flight testing with Chaparral in 2023. Elroy has also said it holds agreements with several prospective customers for commercial, military, and humanitarian operations.
LCI is part of the Libra Group, which has subsidiaries owning and operating assets in around 60 countries worldwide. It says it plans to share commercial, financial, and end-user expertise with Elroy Air, whose financial backers include <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-04/lockheed-martin-backs-40-million-funding-round-cargo-vtol-maker-elroy">Lockheed Martin</a>.
“This commitment for the pioneering Chaparral system will enable us to efficiently support mission-critical&nbsp;remote logistical work and socially responsible humanitarian efforts around the world,” said LCI's&nbsp;CEO, Jaspal Jandu. “This forms part of our wider advanced air mobility strategy and will strengthen LCI’s position as the leading provider of leasing, financing, and investing solutions for this new and exciting market.”
In April 2022, LCI placed deposits to buy up to 125 of <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-04-27/lessor-lci-places-deposits-125-betas-alia-250-evtol-aircraft">Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL</a> aircraft. That piloted all-electric vehicle will carry five passengers or 1,400 pounds of freight up to 250 nm.

Managing Editor

LCI To Add Elroy Air Chaparral eVTOL Aircraft to Lease Portfolio

Helicopter operator&nbsp;Bristow this week stepped up its plans to incorporate advanced air mobility services, with a commitment to add autonomous air&nbsp;cargo vehicles to its fleet. In a joint announcement with Elroy Air on July 13, the Houston-based group committed to buying 100&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/chaparral">Chaparral</a> hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.&nbsp;
Under a letter of intent signed with&nbsp;San Francisco-based Elroy Air, Bristow is preordering the Chaparral, which is expected to be certified for commercial operations in 2023. Elroy says the vehicle will<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-18/elroy-air-makes-case-chaparrals-transformation-air-cargo-services">&nbsp;transform air cargo services</a>,&nbsp;not only because it can fly without a pilot on board, but also because it will drop off and pick up cargo robotically in a matter of minutes—without any interaction with a human operator.
Last year, Bristow made provisional sales agreements with eVTOL aircraft developers <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-23/bristow-doubles-down-fleet-electrification-another-evtol-order">Eve</a>, <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-12-17/bristow-evaluates-overairs-butterfly-evtol-advanced-air-mobility-plans">Overair</a>,&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-22/bristow-expands-fleet-electrification-plan-orders-vertical-aerospace-evtols">Vertical Aerospace</a>. It also intends to add <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-26/helicopter-group-bristow-shifts-business-model-commitment-50-estol-aircraft">Electra's </a>fixed-wing eSTOL model to its fleet.
“Leveraging our expertise as both a helicopter and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operator, we plan to use the Elroy Air Chaparral aircraft to fill an increasing demand for the movement of time-sensitive cargo for logistics, health care, and energy applications,” said Bristow executive vice president and chief transformation officer <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-09-03/helicopter-veteran-seeks-leading-role-advanced-air-mobility-revolution">Dave Stepanek</a>. “Bristow has 70-plus&nbsp;years of experience moving people and cargo. We expect to leverage that experience to usher in a new era of vertical lift operations and meet the express shipping cargo needs in cities and regions without relying on existing or new airport infrastructure.”
The Chaparral is designed to carry up to 500 pounds (226 kilograms) of cargo over a 300-mile (482-kilometer) range. While it is made to fly autonomously, it can also be piloted remotely if necessary to comply with local aviation authorities. Its design features a high wing with eight vertical lift rotors and four forward-facing propellers for cruise flight.
Unlike most air taxis and other eVTOLs, the Chaparral will have a hybrid-electric powertrain, which will give the aircraft more range than would be possible using only electric power. A 150-kilowatt&nbsp;gas turbine will generate power&nbsp;for the propulsion system and charge the battery during flight, eliminating the downtime otherwise needed to recharge batteries between flights.
“The Chaparral was built for the challenges we’re facing today. Demand for rapid logistics is outpacing today’s infrastructure,” said Kofi Asante, Elroy Air’s vice president of business development and strategy. “The Chaparral creates a ‘fast-lane’ for middle-mile logistics to an unprecedented range of locations that can serve remote, rural areas and can fly over rough terrain."
Elroy Air is already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-03-28/fedex-test-autonomous-drone-cargo-delivery-elroy-air">working with FedEx</a> to start testing the&nbsp;Chaparral autonomous air cargo system for moving shipments between sorting locations, the company announced earlier this year. FedEx plans to begin flight testing with Chaparral in 2023. Elroy has also said it holds agreements with several prospective customers for commercial, military, and humanitarian operations.
An earlier prototype of the Chaparral aircraft performed its first test flight in 2019, and the company plans to begin test flights of a full-scale prototype <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2020-12-22/us-air-force-backs-elroys-chaparral-freighter-follow-agility-prime-contract">with the U.S. Air Force</a> later this year.&nbsp;Elroy Air has said it aims to achieve type certification for the Chaparral under FAA's Special Class 21.17 (b) rules in 2023.&nbsp;

Elroy Air

News

Bristow Triples Early-delivery Chaparral Reservations

Elroy Air, Bristow Fly Autonomous Freighter in Louisiana

Elroy Air Wins $46 Million Army Contract for Chaparral

Kratos To Build Chaparral Cargo VTOL in Sacramento

FAA eVTOL Integration Pilot Program Flips the Script on Certification

DOT Selects Eight Projects for AAM Integration Trials

U.S. Marines Will Evaluate Elroy's Autonomous Resupply Drone

Elroy Air's Chaparral eVTOL Prototype Makes First Flight

LCI To Add Elroy Air Chaparral eVTOL Aircraft to Lease Portfolio

Bristow Commits To Ordering 100 Chaparral VTOL Freighters from Elroy Air

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