Elroy Air Chaparral

Elroy Air is an autonomy and logistics company developing industry-first aerial transport systems and software to deliver cargo rapidly and flexibly by air. Building on the powertrain and perception technology currently enabling the hybrid-electric/autonomous vehicle revolution, its vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aerial logistics systems can operate outside of airport infrastructure and carry 250–500 lbs of cargo over 300 miles.

Technical Details

Aircraft Type: Winged VTOL

Powerplant: Hybrid-Electric

Range: 300 miles

Top Speed: Undisclosed

Propeller Configuration: 6 pylon mounted vertical propellers; 1 push propeller

Passenger/Payload Capacity: 250-500lbs payload

Autonomy Level: Autonomous

Wingspan/Dimensions: Undisclosed

The Elroy Air team has recruited a wide variety of expertise and perspectives, with employee backgrounds ranging from academia to both large and small aerospace-focused companies. Many members of the team have prior experience growing and selling hardware startup companies, which will prove to be beneficial in the event that Elroy Air is situated for a strategic or financial acquisition. We believe that Elroy has conducted a thorough market analysis of the aviation and logistics industries in its decision to focus exclusively on cargo transit. The company's aircraft, the Chaparral, will therefore need not comply with passenger federal regulations and could possibly be implemented sooner than passenger-focused competitors. The 1,215-pound vehicle boasts an impressive max payload weight of up to 500 pounds, and its hybrid-electric propulsion system continues to be flight tested at McMillan Airfield in Camp Roberts, CA.