The next-generation aviation start-up MightyFly asserts that it is the first company to be developing a large, autonomous eVTOL cargo drone, has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a flight corridor. This approval marks a significant achievement for MightyFly, signifying a notable advancement in the realm of drone delivery services.
The newly sanctioned flight corridor, linking California's New Jerusalem and Byron Airports, spanning approximately 20 miles, will enable MightyFly to undertake a range of crucial flight tests with its latest drone model, the 2024 Cento.
The newest iteration of the Cento drone represents a significant advancement, being a hybrid model resembling a small single-seater aircraft and capable of transporting up to 100 lbs. of cargo across distances of up to 600 miles. Engineered for complete autonomy, including the loading and unloading of packages, it offers innovative features such as the ability to rearrange packages within its structure to maintain optimal weight distribution and balance during flight. This design reflects a pioneering approach to drone technology, promising enhanced efficiency and flexibility in cargo transportation operations.
“The use case is B2B expedited logistics,” said CEO and founder Manal Habib, an MIT and Stanford grad who formerly worked at drone delivery startup Zipline. “Think”, she said, “of deliveries from suppliers to manufacturers, from hospitals to labs, from warehouses to retail stores, or to an oil rig, a farm or a mining site — as well as for DOD use.”
