• 24 Jan 2023 11:58 AM
• 0

MightyFly Unveils Cento eVTOL

MightyFly has produced the second generation of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) delivery drone, the company announced in a press release on Jan. 24. The Cento is an improved version of the MF-100, a demonstrator the company revealed in April 2021. In the new vehicle, MightyFly has added a single rear-mounted propeller for forward flight and made additional improvements to enhance the efficiency and safety of the aircraft.

According to MightyFly, the Cento is capable of flying up to 600 miles (965 km) and at a maximum speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). With a maximum takeoff weight of 355 lb (161 kg), the Cento has a cargo capacity of 100 lb (45 kg), enough to fit 96 small US Postal Service packages. At 13-ft (3.9-m) long, the length of the aircraft is less than that of two compact cars, minimizing the infrastructure and personnel requirements.

The announcement comes some 21 months after the California-based company announced that it had raised $5.1M in seed funding to develop what would become the Cento. In February 2022, MightyFly announced that it had completed the first flights of the MF-100, all of which were made autonomously and under the supervision of remote pilots. The company began testing the Cento in December 2022.

MightyFly hopes that the Cento will underpin a new model for door-to-door deliveries. Moving forward, MightyFly expects to begin more comprehensive tests of the Cento, including transition flights at altitudes of up to 5,000 ft. The company is also in the preliminary stages of designing a larger aircraft, one capable of carrying 500 lb (227 kg) of cargo.