Photo: MightyFly
MightyFly is one of the most promising names in air logistics, and its flagship aircraft, the hybrid Cento, is gearing up for a very busy and successful year.
Back in 2022, the MF-100 prototype made waves after conducting its first autonomous flight in the Bay Area. It was the 100-pound (45 kg) payload version of MightyFly's innovative aircraft. The Cento was designed as a hybrid-electric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) that would combine high performance with autonomous capabilities. The Cento promised a versatile 500-pound (227 kg) cargo capacity coupled with an extensive range of more than 600 miles (966 km) and an efficient top speed of 150 mph (241 kph).
The startup recently unveiled its third-generation aircraft at its facility in San Leandro, California. This new and improved version took in the feedback from previous testing and from potential customers and turned it into several significant upgrades.
The 2024 Cento sports a bigger cargo bay. This is not only compatible with larger packages in general, but it can also accommodate standard cooler boxes for the safe transportation of blood bags and donor organs. This, in turn, extends Cento's versatility even more. This eVTOL could be operated for anything from general logistics and retail to healthcare, automotive, disaster relief, and the oil-and-gas industry.
The number one innovation brought forth by the 2024 Cento is its compatibility with a wider range of payload centers of gravity. It's a fresh take on versatility, allowing this cargo aircraft to adapt to various types and densities when it comes to cargo, as well as different tie-down positions or differences in the loading order, which is said to be a game-changing feature on the market.
Plus, it will benefit from the manufacturer's dedicated ALMS system. This autonomous load mastering system minimizes human intervention in the cargo loading process, which increases efficiency and saves time. This eVTOL can open and close its cargo bay door autonomously, receive and eject packages through the bay opening, and even move the cargo packages in the cargo bay and secure them with the help of an internal positioning and locking system.
After this initial unveiling, the third-generation aircraft is gearing up for its first qualification tests coming up this month. Toward the end of the year, the 2024 Cento will kick off point-to-point delivery demonstrations in Michigan.
It's going to be a busy year, but MightyFly has its schedule set for early 2025 as well. That's when the Cento eVTOL will show the US Air Force what it can do through demonstrations of fully autonomous loading, unloading, and package balancing. In late 2023, the USAF awarded MightyFly $1.25 million as part of an SBIR Phase II contract. These funds are specifically geared toward further developing the company's innovative ALMS technology, which USAF intends to implement into its logistics operations.
The startup recently unveiled its third-generation aircraft at its facility in San Leandro, California. This new and improved version took in the feedback from previous testing and from potential customers and turned it into several significant upgrades.
The 2024 Cento sports a bigger cargo bay. This is not only compatible with larger packages in general, but it can also accommodate standard cooler boxes for the safe transportation of blood bags and donor organs. This, in turn, extends Cento's versatility even more. This eVTOL could be operated for anything from general logistics and retail to healthcare, automotive, disaster relief, and the oil-and-gas industry.
The number one innovation brought forth by the 2024 Cento is its compatibility with a wider range of payload centers of gravity. It's a fresh take on versatility, allowing this cargo aircraft to adapt to various types and densities when it comes to cargo, as well as different tie-down positions or differences in the loading order, which is said to be a game-changing feature on the market.
Plus, it will benefit from the manufacturer's dedicated ALMS system. This autonomous load mastering system minimizes human intervention in the cargo loading process, which increases efficiency and saves time. This eVTOL can open and close its cargo bay door autonomously, receive and eject packages through the bay opening, and even move the cargo packages in the cargo bay and secure them with the help of an internal positioning and locking system.
After this initial unveiling, the third-generation aircraft is gearing up for its first qualification tests coming up this month. Toward the end of the year, the 2024 Cento will kick off point-to-point delivery demonstrations in Michigan.
It's going to be a busy year, but MightyFly has its schedule set for early 2025 as well. That's when the Cento eVTOL will show the US Air Force what it can do through demonstrations of fully autonomous loading, unloading, and package balancing. In late 2023, the USAF awarded MightyFly $1.25 million as part of an SBIR Phase II contract. These funds are specifically geared toward further developing the company's innovative ALMS technology, which USAF intends to implement into its logistics operations.
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