Dufour Aerospace Aims to Compete with Medevac Helicopters

Dufour Aerospace expects the first flight of its Aero3 hybrid electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft test article to take place by the end of this year or early 2023.

Thom Patterson

Tuesday, March 01, 2022 at 12:27 PM ET

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Aero3, from Dufour Aerospace, is being developed as a hybrid eVTOL emergency medical transport and rescue aircraft. [Courtesy: Dufour Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Dufour Aerospace is developing the Aero3, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft specifically designed to overcome the inherent challenges of traditional medevac helicopter operations.
The Aero3 features a unique tilt-wing design with multiple proprotors instead of traditional helicopter blades, enhancing safety during low-altitude flight and enabling landings in diverse, unorthodox locations.
Designed for critical EMS missions, Aero3 offers a high payload capacity for medical teams and patients, operates more quietly, and is expected to be more cost-effective and faster than helicopters, improving "golden hour" response times.
With a hybrid-electric propulsion system for extended range and in-flight charging, Dufour Aerospace aims for EASA certification by 2026 to capitalize on the rapidly growing air ambulance market.

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Medevac helicopter pilots are all too aware of the challenges involved in their missions. They often have to land and take off from areas not intended for use as heliports, including parking lots, farmland, and empty side streets.

They also have to fly very low—maintaining altitudes under 1,000 feet, where dangerous infrastructure, such as power lines, light poles, antenna towers, and trees can get in the way—with potentially disastrous results. Keeping proper situational awareness surrounding tail rotors and main blades—often measuring 35 to 50 feet long—can also be challenging.