Advantages of an airplane, capabilities of a helicopter: a fundamentally new aircraft was tested in Russia

The experimental design bureau of P. O. Sukhoi reported the successful testing of a heavy drone with vertical takeoff and landing. A machine completely assembled from domestic components was tested at the test site. The device is intended for purely civilian use.


The demand for the machine, which does not require specially equipped runways, is expected to be enormous. This is, first of all, the delivery of goods to remote settlements with poorly developed road infrastructure. The capabilities of UAVs will be used by geologists and builders in remote, difficult places, reports AVIA.RU.

The development of off-airfield based transport was carried out by the Sukhoi Design Bureau on its own initiative. The vehicle is lifted into the sky by a hybrid power unit that combines an electric motor with a gasoline piston propulsion engine. Lifting engines for vertical take-off are installed on the wing beams. After lifting off the ground, explains project manager E. Rubtsov, the gasoline unit comes into play.


All drone operations are automated. However, the takeoff, airborne movement and landing will be monitored by an operator. Human intervention to change the given route is expected only in emergency cases. Thanks to its high fuel efficiency, the vehicle is capable of traveling 500 km with 300 kg of cargo on board.