Dufour Aerospace demonstrates Aero2 drone
The company successfully demonstrated its Aero2 drone’s tilt-wing capabilities, and announced plans to begin commercial production in 2025
Dufour Aerospace – using its X2.2 Aero2 prototype – announced that it demonstrated the uncrewed aerial vehicle’s tilt-wing design for the first time in July 2023 at its facility in Dübendorf, Switzerland.
The company also confirmed that it is preparing to start series production and certification of the Aero2, with a view to the first aircraft being delivered in 2025. The Aero2 will be able to carry up to 40kg of cargo – such as medical goods, in the case of launch customer Spright – over a distance of 400km at full capacity, or 1,200km with a smaller payload.
“Being able to show the full transition of X2.2 is a really significant milestone for Dufour Aerospace,” said Sascha Hardegger, Chief Operating Officer of Dufour Aerospace. “X2.2 will allow our us and our launch customer Spright to demonstrate the outstanding capabilities of Aero2 and its potential to revolutionise middle-mile logistics of critical goods.”
Spright – the medical drone logistics subsidiary of Air Methods – placed an order with Dufour in November 2022 for an initial fleet of 40 Aero2 drones – with additional options for the purchase of a further 100 aircraft.
Spright is due to receive a second X2.2 Aero2 prototype, which will serve as a demonstrator for the USA. The two prototypes will be used for further ‘flight testing and envelope expansion’ in the latter half of 2023.
Dufour is also currently working on its next Aero2 prototype, the X2.3, which will be equipped with a hybrid electric powertrain provided by Suter Industries. It will have a six meter wingspan – compared with the X2.2’s five meter wingspan – and will be identical to the planned production version in dimension weight and functionality. Several X2.3 prototype aircraft will be used to support use cases with partners around the world.