MightyFly receives flight demonstration grant
The company will perform several flight demonstrations in the US state of Michigan
MightyFly has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Michigan Mobility Funding Program (MMFP) to perform autonomous cargo flight demonstrations in the US state.
The demonstration will employ MightyFly’s Cento aircraft, and is expected to be the first public showing of an autonomous fixed-wing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft conducting cargo deliveries of 100lb (45kg). The Cento was first unveiled earlier this year.
The flights will be conducted with the support of the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), and is intended to showcase the Cento’s functionality in delivering ‘express logistics’ that meet the needs of ‘Michigan’s manufacturing, automotive, logistics, retail, chemical and pharmaceutical industries’.
The MMFP grant program is managed by the OFME ‘to catalyze and scale new mobility solutions that improve environmental sustainability’.
“We are excited to be the first large, autonomous, fixed-wing eVTOL cargo delivery company to demonstrate how autonomous aerial expedited logistics solutions will better serve Michiganders,” said Manal Habib, CEO of MightyFly. “This demonstration will be the first stepping stone for the efficient flow of goods across the world, making it possible for everyone to access reliable and affordable same-day deliveries. We will be making history!”
MightyFly is also currently scoping and planning proof of concept (POC) trials with partners throughout 2024 and 2025.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.