Flying Vehicle Makes First Test Flight; 300-Mile RangeFlying Vehicle Makes First Test Flight; 300-Mile Range

A long-range hybrid VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle from Pipistrel has conducted its first hover flight.

The unmanned Nuuva V300 hybrid-electric flying vehicle has a range of 300 nautical miles and can carry a 600-pound payload.

The flying vehicle is powered by a Honeywell fly-by-wire flight control system.

In addition to Pipistrel, a 30-year-old company that became part of Textron in 2022, Honeywell Aerospace also has partnered with major electric aerial vehicle (EAV) makers including Archer Aviation, Lilium, Hyundai’s Supernal and Vertical Aerospace.  

“Today’s milestone is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our team at Pipistrel,” said Gabriel Massey, president and managing director of Pipistrel. 

“The Nuuva’s first flight demonstrates Pipistrel’s strength in electric propulsion and dedication to advancing the aviation industry through our active involvement in research programs and our successful collaboration with regulatory agencies, including our recent operational authorization from the Italian Civil Air Authority (ENAC).”

The EAV, which can land on paved or unpaved services, is designed for cargo to be loaded through the nose of the fuselage. 

The flying vehicle can hold up to three cargo pallets, according to the company.

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The Nuuva has an electric vertical take-off powertrain but a separate cruise propulsion system and can be remotely monitored at a ground control station.

That system was developed with Textron Systems and includes point-and-click operations. 

The EAV also has automatic beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight capabilities and can transition from vertical to forward flight.

An additional Nuuva V300 EAV is expected to join the flight program later this year following the first, which is powered by a fly-by-wire, redundant flight control system from Honeywell.

“We are thrilled to witness the Nuuva V300’s first flight, a demonstration of our leadership in emerging technology and advanced air mobility, as well as our commitment to multi-purpose aviation solutions,” said Kriya Shortt, president and CEO of Textron eAviation.