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Advanced / Transformational Technology

USAF Pilots Conduct First-Ever Crewed eVTOL Flight with BETA Aircraft

Reed

Wednesday, March 16th, 2022

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USAF Pilots Conduct First-Ever Crewed eVTOL Flight with BETA Aircraft

Major Jonathan Appleby and BETA test pilot Camron Guthrie perform a flight test in the ALIA aircraft at BETA’s  hangar and testing facility. (Photo: BETA Technologies/Brian Jenkins)

On March 9 two U.S. Air Force pilots became the first Airmen to fly an electric aircraft with military airworthiness approval—the ALIA, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, developed by BETA Technologies. BETA has partnered with the Air Force’s Agility Prime program since 2020 to develop and refine their eVTOL, and the company hosted this milestone flight at their hangar and testing facility in Plattsburgh, N.Y. In May 2021, BETA made headlines as the first company to receive…

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