Photo: Dufour Aerospace
The Aero2 sports an unusual design that makes it instantly recognizable among other drones and crewed eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing). Top-quality design requires manufacturing at the same standards. The Swiss startup that created Aero2 selected a reputable player in the domestic aviation industry as its main partner.
Swiss precision has gained a worldwide reputation. A new type of aircraft that's both designed and manufactured in Switzerland comes with great expectations and huge potential. The Aero2 promises to satisfy all demands. Dufour Aerospace introduced the Aero2 concept in 2021, describing it as the Swiss Army Knife of small unmanned aircraft.
Aero2 stands out due to the uncommon tilt-wing design that combines the best of what fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft offer. On the one hand, this compact machine can take off and land like a helicopter, which means it can access difficult terrains with little space available. On the other hand, it claims to offer the high performance and low operating costs of conventional airliners.
Dufour is getting ready to enter a new stage where this experimental aircraft will come to life. Connova AG, an expert in aerospace-grade composite structural components, will be manufacturing the Aero2's main wing, fuselage, and engine bay at its facility in Villmergen, Switzerland.
These three components are known as major sub-assemblies of the airframe. An atypical aircraft like Aero2 needs a particularly lightweight airframe, and this is where composite materials play a major part. Connova has also used them for conventional aircraft, such as the Swiss Pilatus, with great success. According to Connova, more and more manufacturers of drones and other types of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are looking into all-composite components, but not all match this expert's professional standards, as Dufour does.
The collaboration will kick off with only four Aero2 aircraft but is set to expand over the course of next year. Dufour says it already has more deliveries than initially estimated, and Connova is willing to increase its production capacity to match what looks like an increasing demand for the tilt-wing eVTOL. Many of these aircraft are set to be delivered to the US, where the Aero2 enjoyed significant success.
This milestone comes after the Swiss startup recently unveiled more details about the Aero2 design. The upgraded version features a bigger fuselage with a larger wingspan compared to the original prototype and boasts an H-tail instead of a conventional tail. The initial eVTOL also becomes a hybrid VTOL, meaning it will be equipped with hybrid-electric propulsion instead of a purely electric system, primarily for the purpose of a greater range.
The uncrewed aircraft will be able to cover more than 215 nautical miles (400 km) with a maximum payload of 88 pounds (40 kg) onboard.
Aero2 stands out due to the uncommon tilt-wing design that combines the best of what fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft offer. On the one hand, this compact machine can take off and land like a helicopter, which means it can access difficult terrains with little space available. On the other hand, it claims to offer the high performance and low operating costs of conventional airliners.
Dufour is getting ready to enter a new stage where this experimental aircraft will come to life. Connova AG, an expert in aerospace-grade composite structural components, will be manufacturing the Aero2's main wing, fuselage, and engine bay at its facility in Villmergen, Switzerland.
These three components are known as major sub-assemblies of the airframe. An atypical aircraft like Aero2 needs a particularly lightweight airframe, and this is where composite materials play a major part. Connova has also used them for conventional aircraft, such as the Swiss Pilatus, with great success. According to Connova, more and more manufacturers of drones and other types of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are looking into all-composite components, but not all match this expert's professional standards, as Dufour does.
The collaboration will kick off with only four Aero2 aircraft but is set to expand over the course of next year. Dufour says it already has more deliveries than initially estimated, and Connova is willing to increase its production capacity to match what looks like an increasing demand for the tilt-wing eVTOL. Many of these aircraft are set to be delivered to the US, where the Aero2 enjoyed significant success.
This milestone comes after the Swiss startup recently unveiled more details about the Aero2 design. The upgraded version features a bigger fuselage with a larger wingspan compared to the original prototype and boasts an H-tail instead of a conventional tail. The initial eVTOL also becomes a hybrid VTOL, meaning it will be equipped with hybrid-electric propulsion instead of a purely electric system, primarily for the purpose of a greater range.
The uncrewed aircraft will be able to cover more than 215 nautical miles (400 km) with a maximum payload of 88 pounds (40 kg) onboard.
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