Dufour has achieved another major milestone, as the Aero2 production-ready version - the X2.3 - completed its first successful hover flight.

Dufour Aerospace aircraft have hovered and transitioned from vertical take-off to forward flight flown many times, but this was the first hovering flight of the Dufour Aerospace production-ready design. The Aero2 is Dufour Aerospace's cutting-edge tilt-wing drone. Over the past years, several prototypes have been put through their paces.

"This achievement is the result of years of research, development, and testing by our team, and I am so proud of them,” says Sascha Hardegger, CEO of Dufour Aerospace. “From those first prototype versions to this aircraft that will very soon be ready to be flown by eVTOL and drone operators, we believe the market eagerly awaits our progress.”

‍The successful hover flight of the X2.3 demonstrates the viability of the aircraft's design and its advanced flight control systems. This flight test, conducted under rigorous safety protocols, showcased the stability, control, and precision of the Aero2 in a hover state, a critical capability for any VTOL aircraft.

The Aero2 X2.3 is part of Dufour Aerospace's ambitious vision to create cutting-edge VTOL tilt-wing aircraft that combine the benefits of traditional fixed-wing airplanes with the versatility of helicopters, and ultimately in an fully-automated manner. The Aero2 is designed to perform a variety of long-range missions, critical cargo transport, support of medical supply chains including organ transportation, and surveillance, making it a versatile platform for both commercial and defense applications.

Each milestone in the Aero2 development program brings the company closer to the eventual goal of full operational capability, where the Aero2 will perform complex missions and help redefine aerial mobility.

Following the success of the hover flight, Dufour Aerospace will continue to rigorously test and refine the aircraft. The next phases of testing include transitioning from hover to forward flight, a complex maneuver that is crucial for demonstrating the aircraft's full operational capabilities. Of course, the Dufour team has been building up to this phase, methodically and with a view to certification of the production aircraft in due course.

The drone is expected to undergo a series of test flights in various conditions to validate its performance, safety, and reliability. These tests will be pivotal in preparing the Aero2 for commercial applications.