Beta Technologies Concludes First Electric Aircraft Deployment for Air Force

Air Force pilots flew the electric aircraft manufacturer’s conventional takeoff and landing design in a series of experimental trials.

Jack Daleo

Monday, January 29, 2024 at 10:46 AM ET

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Beta’s electric Alia CTOL aircraft takes off from the runway at Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field in Florida. [Courtesy: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Beta Technologies successfully concluded a three-month deployment of its electric Alia CTOL aircraft with the U.S. Air Force, evaluating its potential for critical Department of Defense (DOD) missions like resupply, cargo delivery, and personnel transport.
The trials demonstrated significant operational advantages, including the first simulated electric casualty evacuation and maintenance recovery missions, showcasing drastically reduced costs and faster response times compared to conventional military assets.
This deployment, part of the AFWERX Agility Prime program, marks a key step in integrating electric aircraft into DOD operations, with Beta's Alia CTOL targeted for service entry in 2025.

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Manufacturer Beta Technologies is designing a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft. But the aircraft is anything but conventional, as evidenced by a series of experimental trials with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Beta on Monday announced that it concluded its first deployment with the DOD at Eglin Air Force Base’s Duke Field (KEGI) in Florida. The three-month campaign involved Beta’s electric Alia CTOL, a mobile flight simulator, and the company’s built-in-house charging system.