Dufour Aerospace confirmed this week that it had flown what it described as a “production-ready” version of its Aero2 uncrewed eVTOL utility aircraft. This Swiss company released images of the first hover flight with the latest X2.3 prototype at its facility near Zurich.
The Dufour team is now expanding the test envelope as it prepares to achieve the transition from vertical to forward flight. The company aims to start deliveries of the Aero2 in 2026 and has intended to deliver early examples to prospective customers including Sweden-based European Medical Drone to conduct trial operations under EASA’s experimental rules.
The hybrid-electric tilt-wing Aero2 is intended for missions that could include cargo deliveries of items such as urgent medical supplies and organs for transplant procedures, as well as surveillance flights for both commercial and defense applications. The aircraft has a payload of 40 kilograms (88 pounds), a projected range of up to 400 kilometers (216 nm), and a speed of 92 knots.
“This achievement is the result of years of research, development, and testing by our team and I am so proud of them,” said Sascha Hardegger, who was appointed as Dufour’s new CEO in July. “From those first prototype versions to this aircraft that will very soon be ready to be flown by eVTOL and drone operators, we believe the market eagerly awaits our progress.”
In the longer term, Dufour also aims to bring a larger Aero3 aircraft to market. This could be used for passenger transportation with up to eight seats, or carry up to payloads of up to 750 kilograms on sectors of up to around 554 nm.