Tactical Robotics Ltd, December 30, 2015 - The AirMule Vertical TakeOff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) successfully completed its first untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel on December 30th.
On this first flight the AirMule performed a vertical takeoff and landing, followed by stability checks and forward flights at low speed.
2015 was a challenging year that included a ground incident that damaged our AirMule demonstrator. While the repair of the aircraft imposed a delay of several months on our development schedule, it also gave us an opportunity to make significant upgrades to the aircraft systems. We installed new equipment and integrated new safety features. In parallel to the repair and upgrade activity we initiated and carried out a rigorous examination process with the Israeli CAA in order to get authorization for untethered flight testing.
The good news is that on December 30th, AirMule successfully completed its first autonomous, untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel. We were extremely pleased to get permission from the CAA to fly in Megiddo and were able to set up a portable testing facility with full-time access to a small airfield. The testing schedule in Megiddo includes plans for a demonstration of AirMule's cargo delivery capability as well as a 'beyond the line of sight' flight along a path running through an adjacent, forested area.
All in all, we expect that in 2016 we will finally be able to demonstrate some of AirMule's unique capabilities.
Additionally, we achieved 'category 2' certification for an export variant of the aircraft known as 'Cormorant', under the international Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), an important element in the eventual marketing of the aircraft.
On this first flight the AirMule performed a vertical takeoff and landing, followed by stability checks and forward flights at low speed.
2015 was a challenging year that included a ground incident that damaged our AirMule demonstrator. While the repair of the aircraft imposed a delay of several months on our development schedule, it also gave us an opportunity to make significant upgrades to the aircraft systems. We installed new equipment and integrated new safety features. In parallel to the repair and upgrade activity we initiated and carried out a rigorous examination process with the Israeli CAA in order to get authorization for untethered flight testing.
The good news is that on December 30th, AirMule successfully completed its first autonomous, untethered flight at the Megiddo airfield in northern Israel. We were extremely pleased to get permission from the CAA to fly in Megiddo and were able to set up a portable testing facility with full-time access to a small airfield. The testing schedule in Megiddo includes plans for a demonstration of AirMule's cargo delivery capability as well as a 'beyond the line of sight' flight along a path running through an adjacent, forested area.
All in all, we expect that in 2016 we will finally be able to demonstrate some of AirMule's unique capabilities.
Additionally, we achieved 'category 2' certification for an export variant of the aircraft known as 'Cormorant', under the international Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), an important element in the eventual marketing of the aircraft.
Megiddo See also |
Helicopters UAV & Drones
Tactical Robotics AirMule / Cormorant
Cormorant UAV First Fully Autonomous Flight
Safran Signs MoU With Urban Aeronautics
