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Skyryse Achieves First SkyOS-Equipped Black Hawk Flight

Company is developing flight automation systems for a wide range of rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft.

Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with Skyryse’s SkyOS flight operating system completes an automated pickup, hover, and touchdown. [Credit: Skyryse]

Key Takeaways:

Skyryse successfully conducted the first flight of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter integrated with its SkyOS, demonstrating automated flight capabilities (takeoff, hover, touchdown) using simplified controls like a finger swipe and single joystick.
SkyOS replaces conventional flight controls with touchscreen displays and a fly-by-wire system, aiming to make aircraft easier, safer, and more intuitive to fly by reducing pilot workload and incorporating advanced safety features.
The SkyOS technology is a universal flight operating system designed for integration across various aircraft platforms, with ongoing applications on other helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for military, commercial, and emergency services, including a partnership with Cal Fire.

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A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter designed to take off or touch down with the swipe of a finger has made its first flight.

Skyryse, which began integrating its SkyOS universal flight operating system on the Black Hawk three months ago, on Tuesday announced the helicopter’s inaugural flight. It completed an automated pickup, hover, and touchdown, performing “precision flight maneuvers” with a single joystick while in the air, Skyryse said.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.