FutureFlight
Dufour Will Bring Autonomous Aero2 eVTOL into Commercial Service
The Swiss eVTOL developer has been using the Aero2 for development work on its larger Aero3 hybrid-electric vehicle, In response to positive market reaction, the company now intends to start production in 2023.
Dufour Aero2
Dufour Aerospace plans to start commercial production of its Aero2 autonomous model in 2023. (Image: Dufour Aerospace)

Dufour Aerospace this week confirmed plans to bring its Aero2 autonomous air vehicle into production in 2023 after receiving market interest for commercial applications with the tilt-wing eVTOL model. The hybrid-electric vehicle—which will offer a payload of 40 kg (88 lb) and a flight duration of up to three hours at a cruise speed of almost 106 mph—has been flying as part of the development work for the Swiss company’s larger Aero3 piloted eVTOL.

In a November 4 announcement, Dufour said it intends to certify the Aero2 under EASA’s special-condition rules for light unmanned aerial systems. The company first flew the Aero2 as a technology demonstrator in 2020.