FutureFlight
Elroy Announces Launch Customers for Autonomous Chaparral VTOL Aircraft
The fully autonomous vehicle is set to be used in a variety of commercial cargo, military, and humanitarian applications, with Elroy now backed by both private and government funding.
Elroy Air Chaparral
Elroy Air has unveiled a pre-production version of its autonomous Chaparral VTOL aircraft. (Image: Elroy Air)

Elroy Air today unveiled what it described as a preproduction version of its Chaparral C1 VTOL cargo transporter. The company says the hybrid-electric autonomous aircraft will offer the express freight delivery industry significantly greater capability than existing smaller drones, by carrying loads of between 300 and 500 pounds over distances of up to 300 miles.

In its announcement, Elroy said it holds agreements from prospective customers in the commercial, defense, and humanitarian sectors covering the delivery of 500 Chaparrals with a potential value of $1 billion. It named American Airlines regional affiliate Mesa Airlines as one of these customers, reporting that the carrier intends to operate 150 aircraft on behalf of American, as well as United Airlines and DHL.

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