Vermont-based Beta Technologies is working toward FAA type certification for Alia by 2024. [Courtesy Beta Technologies]
Key Takeaways:
Beta Technologies secured a U.S. Army contract to flight test its Alia electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for military cargo and logistics missions.
This partnership will accelerate Alia's development for both military and civil applications, building on Beta's prior engagements with the U.S. Air Force.
The Alia eVTOL, designed for cargo and passenger transport with a 250 nm range, has set industry records and secured purchase agreements with companies like UPS and Blade.
Beyond aircraft development, Beta aims to establish a broader "electric transportation ecosystem," including a multi-state network of universal charging stations for all electric vehicles across the eastern U.S.
Vermont-based Beta Technologies announced Monday it has won a U.S. Army contract to support flight testing of its Alia electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
The partnership eventually aims to help the Army test specific military cargo and logistics missions for eVTOLs, while allowing Beta to accelerate development for both military and civil applications.
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Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.