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 eVTOL aircraft, aiming to adapt it for military cargo and logistics missions while accelerating its overall development.
The Alia eVTOL is a versatile aircraft designed for cargo, medical, and passenger transport with a 250 nm range, and has prior partnerships with the U.S. Air Force.
Beta has secured commercial purchase agreements with companies like UPS and Blade Urban Air Mobility, and is building an "electric transportation ecosystem" including a multi-state network of charging stations for various electric vehicles.
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.