BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – South Burlington electric aircraft maker Beta Technology last month marked a milestone in their young company — the first full test flight of their prototype vertical takeoff plane they hope will revolutionize the industry.
It’s part helicopter, part plane, and all-electric.
“As you can see, it’s got four lift propellers in each corner and a very simple, elegant design where we’ve got the lift plus cruise,” said Beta’s Chris Caputo. He says their Alia VTOL aircraft is designed to combine the best of both worlds — the convenience of not needing a runway to takeoff and land, and the distance capabilities of a traditional plane. “It’s obviously done all the time in very small drones, but we’re talking about a 7,000-pound aircraft with a 50-foot wingspan.”
And in May, at their testing site at the Plattsburgh International Airport, it was finally time to put it through its paces. Years of engineering building up to the moment when they would see if the aircraft could transition between vertical take-off into traditional flight, and then back to a vertical landing. And Caputo says it worked.
Reporter Cat Viglienzoni: What was it like to see the plane off the ground, in the air, doing what it’s supposed to do?
Chris Caputo: I mean, it’s absolutely awesome.
There’s no question it’s a big moment for BETA. But there’s a lot more to come with this aircraft before it’s ready to be sold to customers. They’re hoping for FAA certification by 2026. And to get there, there’s a lot more testing on the way. “This is like a flying laboratory,” Caputo said.
They’ve flown a couple of test flights so far. Each one helps them gather more data about the plane and its capabilities. Caputo says there’s demand in the cargo market because UPS, United Therapeutics, and other companies are looking for runway independence and they are one of a few companies in the world offering an electric option. “It’s an aircraft that is not only good for the environment but good for business,” Caputo said.
With a current range of about 100 to 150 miles, they are mostly looking at regional transportation. Caputo says they hope they’ll be the first one to market, with variants of the plane coming off the production line at their South Burlington factory next year to get flight tested.