First flight for Elroy's Chaparral C1
Elroy Air flew the world’s first turbogenerator-hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing (hVTOL) aircraft on 12 November at its test-flight facility in Byron, California - the Chaparral C1. The C1 is an autonomous hVTOL aircraft, with distributed electric propulsion and a turbogenerator-battery architecture.
The milestone marks a significant step forward in the company’s mission to enable same-day shipping to every person on the planet and agile, low-risk resupply for defence.
Leveraging both its turbogenerator system and high-power batteries the C1 took off vertically, flew for 57 seconds, and landed successfully.
Hybrid-electric aircraft represent a critical advancement in the aviation industry. The combination of distributed electric propulsion (DEP) and turbine-based electrical power generation yields a best-of-both-worlds option first suggested by NASA researchers in 2008. (cj)