Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience

Xwing Conducts Fully Autonomous Gate-to-Gate Cargo Flight with Cessna Aircraft

Xwing, a San Francisco startup developing technologies for self-flying aircraft, announced that it has completed what it called the world’s first fully autonomous demonstration flight of a commercial cargo aircraft from gate to gate. The Cessna Grand Caravan 208 pulled away from Xwing’s hangar in Concord, California, taxied, took off, landed and returned to the gate entirely on its own. Continue reading →

VSR700 Achieves First Step in Flight Envelope Opening

A few weeks ago, the Airbus VSR700 demonstrator achieved a test flight that pushed its speed limit to 60 kts (more than 110km/h), entirely opening its flight envelope at low speed. At the end of the test, the demonstrator had accumulated more than 10 flight hours. Thanks to this milestone, the VSR700 programme is getting closer to its goal: providing the French Navy with a sea-demonstration-compatible Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). Continue reading →

Insitu Pacific Demonstrates Enhanced Detection Ranges

Insitu Pacific and Boeing Australia’s Detect and Avoid (DAA) capability is now ready to field in real-world operations after test flights demonstrated enhanced detection ranges between an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and other airspace users. The technology is designed to advance the ability to safely integrate UAS into different classes of airspace. Continue reading →

USAF Helps Metro Hop Test eSTOL Active Landing Gear

Metro Hop has the green light from the United States Air Force Agility Prime program to test its patent pending Active Landing Gear. This unique landing gear allows Metro Hop’s all-electric, short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft to fly up to 250 mph with substantial payloads, while operating nearly silently out of small spaces. Continue reading →