Rotor Technologies R22 based R220Y R&D aircraft takes flight in Nausha. Photo: Rotor Technologies
In front of a crowd of company staff, their families and VIPs, including New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Rotor Technologies, inc., an autonomous helicopter developer, carried out its first public demonstration flight from its development centre on the site of the former Daniel Webster College at Nausha. According to the company, the demonstration, using its Robinson R22-based R220Y R&D aircraft, marked the first public demonstration of an unmanned full-size helicopter.
Meanwhile, the company has completed the first of its R44 Raven II-based R550X prototypes, which will begin a static display tour of North America in the spring. The R550X is designed to lift heavy loads up to 1,212 lbs, or 550 kg, with no pilot onboard. With a flight time of over three hours and a top speed of 150 miles per hour, it has long-range VTOL capabilities beyond the reach of drones and eVTOLs.
The first two R550Xs are presently being assembled and are expected to begin agricultural flights later this year.
