Pipistrel’s cargo drone completes hover flight test

Pipistrel has completed a first hover flight of its hybrid-electric VTOL unmanned aircraft Nuuva V300.
Completed at Textron subsidiary Pipistrel’s facility in Savogna d’lsonzo, Italy, the hover flight is the first in a number of airborne test milestones.
“Today’s milestone is a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of our team at Pipistrel,” said Gabriel Massey, CEO of Pipistrel. “The Nuuva’s first flight demonstrates Pipistrel’s strength in electric propulsion and dedication to advancing the aviation industry through our active involvement in research programs and our successful collaboration with regulatory agencies, including our recent operational authorisation from the Italian Civil Air Authority (ENAC).”
The Nuuva V300 is designed to carry a 600-pound payload over a range of up to 300nm and can operate from paved or unimproved surfaces. The aircraft is also engineered to load cargo through the nose of the fuselage.
Payload wise Nuuva can hold up to three cargo pallets or be loaded with up to 100 cubic feet of loose cargo.
Kriya Shortt, president and CEO of Textron eAviation said: “We are thrilled to witness the Nuuva V300’s first flight, a demonstration of our leadership in emerging technology and advanced air mobility, as well as our commitment to multi-purpose aviation solutions. The Nuuva V300’s unique capabilities and robust design will not only transform logistics but also play a crucial role in commercial and defence missions such as search and rescue, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and ship-to-shore deliveries.”
The Nuuva V300 is remotely monitored by an operator from a ground control station it has developed in cooperation with Textron Systems. This enables fully automatic point-and-click operations.
The aircraft, which is equipped with automatic beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight capabilities, will transition from vertical to forward flight on its wings and follow the most recent flight plan until landing. The first will be piloted via a fly-by-wire, triple-redundant flight control system supplied by Honeywell.
To support the continued expansion of the aircraft’s flight envelope, Pipistrel said a second Nuuva V300 will also join the flight programme in 2025.