Chaparral completes first turbogenerator-hybrid-electric VTOL flight
Elroy Air flew the Chaparral C1 using its turbogenerator-battery hybrid-electric system at Byron Airport, completing a 57-second vertical flight.
Evidence notes
- Elroy Air described it as the first flight of a turbogenerator-hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.
- The aircraft used distributed electric propulsion and a turbogenerator-battery architecture.
- The flight began an envelope-expansion campaign covering hover, transition and cruise modes.
Company context
Elroy Air builds Chaparral, an autonomous hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft for middle-mile logistics, military resupply, humanitarian aid and rapid-response missions.