🛩️ Really large drones pave the way for long-distance freight transport

• MightyFly receives FAA approval for autonomous eVTOL transport drones.
• The drone can carry a 100 lbs load up to 600 miles.
• The range and ability to operate beyond the operator's line of sight enable long transport distances.

A new large autonomous drone

MightyFly has recently received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an autonomous electric drone for vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), writes Axios.

The approved flight corridor between California's New Jerusalem and Byron Airports, about three kilometers apart, gives MightyFly the opportunity to conduct extensive flight tests with its new drone model, the 2024 Cento.

Cento can fly long distances

Cento has the capability to operate beyond the operator's visual line of sight, a capability that is crucial for large-scale drone logistics.

Cento is a hybrid model about the size of a small one-person aircraft and can carry a load of up to 45 kg for 100 kilometers. Its design focuses on full autonomy not only in flight but also in the loading and unloading of packages. It can even relocate packages internally to optimize weight distribution and balance during flight, increasing its efficiency and safety.

Potential applications and future plans

The potential applications of Cento are extensive, from business-to-business fast logistics to serving remote or difficult-to-reach locations such as oil platforms, farms, and mines.

Looking forward, MightyFly plans to showcase Cento's capabilities to potential commercial operators and the US Air Force. With an upcoming investment round, the company aims to scale up its manufacturing capacity.

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