United Parcel Service (UPS) has confirmed its agreement to purchase ten electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft from Vermont-based Beta Technologies. According to the American package delivery company, the purchases are to assist with speeding up deliveries in small markets.
The aircraft in question will have a cruising speed of 170 mph and a range of 250 miles, with a cargo capacity of 1400 pounds. Cargo will be of a time-sensitive type more usually transported in small fixed-wing aircraft. The deal also includes an option to buy a further 150 of the aircraft from Beta Technologies and delivery of the first ten units is expected to take place in 2024. It is also anticipated that at some point in the future these VTOL aircraft will be operated autonomously.
