Operations
Approvals: FAA type certification started 2025; US DOT eIPP participant
Autonomy: Autonomous flight; automated ground loading of a detachable cargo pod; battery for lift, turbogenerator charges in flight.
Primary use: Middle-mile, island and military resupply.
Operators and customers: US Air Force (AFWERX); Bristow and Mesa Airlines (orders).
Aircraft record
Aircraft record
| Make | Elroy Air |
| Class | cargo |
| Type | lift+cruise VTOL |
| Country | United States |
| Powertrain | hybrid-electric |
| Payload (kg) | 136 |
| Range (km) | 480 |
| Autonomy | Autonomous flight; automated ground loading of a detachable cargo pod; battery for lift, turbogenerator charges in flight |
| Regulatory | FAA type certification started 2025; US DOT eIPP participant |
| Primary use | Middle-mile, island and military resupply |
| Operators | US Air Force (AFWERX); Bristow and Mesa Airlines (orders) |
| Status | prototype |
| Record updated | 2026-10 |
Official site: elroyair.com
In context
Where it fits
Listed in Heavy-Lift Cargo UAVs. Drones are compared on payload against range and endurance, how far the operation runs without people on site (docks, remote operations centers, detect-and-avoid), which approvals let it fly beyond visual line of sight, and who actually flies it.
| Model | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CarryAll (V2000CG) (AutoFlight) | lift+cruise VTOL | in production |
| Nuuva V300 (Pipistrel (Textron eAviation)) | lift+cruise VTOL | unconfirmed |
| FlyCart 100 (DJI) | multirotor | in production |
| FlyCart 30 (DJI) | multirotor | in production |
| EH216-L (EHang) | multirotor | pilot |
| Pelican Cargo (Pyka) | fixed-wing | pilot |
| VoloDrone (Volocopter) | multirotor | discontinued |
| Firefly (Parallel Flight Technologies) | multirotor | pilot |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- Chaparral C1 (Elroy Air)
- Sources
- ElectronsX drones dataset; maker specifications, operator releases and FAA, EASA and CAAC approvals
- Updated
- 2026-10