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• Hanneke Weitering
Helicopter operator Bristow has reserved 15 early-delivery Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo drones, tripling its initial reservation commitment. The move provides an early commercial signal for cargo-drone demand and positions Bristow to expand beyond conventional rotorcraft operations as the aircraft becomes available.
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Electra has completed test flights of its hybrid-electric EL2 Ultra Short aircraft from a commercial heliport in Virginia, demonstrating operations designed to resemble helicopter use. The flights provide an early operational signal for the aircraft’s short-field and point-to-point mobility concept.
Helicopter operator Bristow has reserved 15 early-delivery Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo drones, tripling its initial reservation commitment. The move provides an early commercial signal for cargo-drone demand and positions Bristow to expand beyond conventional rotorcraft operations as the aircraft becomes available.
High activity
Vertical Aerospace will appoint former Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Fabrice Brégier as chair of its board on September 21, 2026. He succeeds Ben Story, who has served as interim chair since May and will remain a director, bringing senior commercial-aircraft leadership to the air-taxi developer.
Bristow Group has reserved 10 additional early delivery positions for Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft, bringing its total reservation to 15. The expanded commitment strengthens Bristow’s planned role in deploying uncrewed electric cargo aircraft for logistics operations as Elroy advances the Chaparral program.
High activity
Joby Aviation says a Cessna Caravan equipped with its autonomy technology completed a 3,199-mile transcontinental flight, including takeoffs and landings, without control inputs from the onboard pilot. The demonstration advances the company’s ambitions for autonomous freight and logistics, while a safety pilot remained part of the operation.
Japan’s SkyDrive has signed an MOU with South Korea’s Verty to assess commercial eVTOL services from 2028, including short-distance sightseeing and inter-city routes. The partnership will address the integrated operating framework required for deployment, spanning flight operations, air traffic management and vertiport infrastructure.
High activity
Electra has chosen U.S. aerospace manufacturer Atlas Group to produce and assemble the first pre-production airframes for its EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft. The agreement advances Electra’s program toward flight testing, certification and eventual commercial production.
Dubai-based Matin Group is investing $80 million in Samson Sky, funding plans for the company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility and production of the Switchblade flying car. The investment strengthens Samson Sky’s path from development toward commercial manufacturing in the emerging advanced air mobility market.
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