An Orkney based project which aims to deliver the blueprint for net zero regional aviation across the UK shares news of a successful test flight of the largest unmanned air vehicle UAV in Europe.
Sustainable Aviat ion Test Environment (SATE), along with lead partner
High lands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), welcomed consortium partner ARC
Aerosystems to Wick John O’Groats airport, where tethered t rials were
conducted with the ARC C-600, autonomous aircraft.
The C-600. designed and built by ARC Aerosystems, is the largest VTOL UAV in
Europe with a wingspan of over eight metres, 100kg payload capacity, and the
ability to t rave l up to 400km.
The aircraft is fitted with a cutting-edge fixed-wing electric vertical take-off
and landing (eVTOL) design which eliminates the need for runways, making it
perfectly suited to support the needs of rural communities in operations
including mail deliveries, fisheries. and windfarms.
Improving rural connectivity is one SATE’s key miss ions. The project.
embedded at Orkney’s Kirkwall Airport, is ideally positioned to serve as a
living laboratory for cutting edge developments like the C-600 w here its real world
tech can be tested.
Dr Seyed Mohseni, CEO and founder, ARC Aerosystems, commented:
“We are very thankful to Innovate UK and al l of the involved parties that
supported ARC to finish the flight test of the C-600, the largest VTOL UAV in
Europe, and we look forward to beyond the visual ‘ line of sight test’ to get one
step closer to commercialisation”.
Welcoming the successful test, SATE manager Jayne Golding said:
“ARC Aerosystems conducted tethered flight trials earlier this month and we
are delighted to have t hem here to welcome key stake holders over the next
two days, including some local high school pupils and college students, who
are interested in STEM.
“One of our ambitions is that successful trials mean our partners can use the
trial data to help showcase aircrafts and technology, al lowing them to develop
a case for commercial use.
“HIAL’s remote airports are ideal for testing such f lights and showing how
rural connectivity is vital. With thanks to UKR I and the CAA for supporting us
and our partners.”
more:
https://www.iotworldtoday.com/flying-vehicles/self-flying-electric-vehicle-tested-largest-in-europe
