As if one transformative technology wasn’t enough, electric aircraft developer Beta Technologies has integrated autonomy on its flagship Alia.
The company—which is developing both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) Alia variants as well as a hybrid-electric powertrain—revealed Thursday that it has been flying subscale aircraft equipped with its in-house autonomy system “for the past several years.” Beta said it has racked up more than 1,000 uncrewed flight hours with its subscale aircraft, which have a demonstrated range of 158 nm on a single charge.
