Textron-owned Pipistrel has completed the first hover flight of its Nuuva V300, a hybrid-electric VTOL cargo UAV. The Nuuva V300 is designed to carry a 272 kg (600 lb) payload over a range of up to 300 nautical miles (555 km).
“Today’s milestone is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our team at Pipistrel,” said Gabriel Massey, Managing Director of Pipistrel, a division of Textron eAviation. “The Nuuva’s first flight highlights Pipistrel’s expertise in electric propulsion and our commitment to advancing aviation through active research, collaboration with regulatory agencies, and innovative engineering.”
The Nuuva V300 utilises a battery-electric system to power eight Pipistrel E-811 electric motors for VTOL operations, while a separate internal combustion engine (ICE) is used for cruise flight. A second prototype is expected to join the test programme later this year.
Image: Textron Pipistrel
