Carbon fibre components as massive as an airplane wing and as small as a postage stamp enter the Dufour Aerospace hangar. Over a number of weeks — round 6 at current — the components are guided alongside a nascent manufacturing line and are meticulously assembled. Hundreds of components in all (and a good quantity of design!) create the Aero2, our pioneering tilt-wing drone designed for our clients’ vital missions.
2024 was a banner yr for Dufour — and that is our yr in evaluate.
Product Developments in 2024
In 2024, we made important progress in testing our automation for the Aero2 drone. With our present check plane, we’ve got demonstrated automated takeoffs, transitions, waypoint navigation, and emergency procedures. Dufour is constantly advancing our automation capabilities to align with our entry into service targets for the Aero2.
Three pre-series plane have been in-built 2024 to check and display these enhancements. Along with growing the plane’s weight capability, key upgrades have been made to the ability system, together with a brand new hybrid engine and extra environment friendly propellers. These enhancements enable the plane to fly longer distances with much less gas, enhance security by backup energy methods, and generate extra sustainable power throughout flight.
Sascha Hardegger Appointed as New CEO
In August, Sascha Hardegger took over as CEO of Dufour, succeeding Thomas Pfammatter, who led the corporate as CEO for seven profitable years. Pfammatter continues to function Head of Technique and on the Board of Administrators for Dufour Aerospace. Simply 4 months after taking the helm, Hardegger was named by eVTOL Insights, a number one commerce publication within the house, as “one to look at” in its first annual report.
Hardegger joined Dufour as Chief Industrial Officer in 2021, bringing 12 years of expertise in Helicopter Emergency Medical Companies and Search and Rescue from Swiss Air-Rescue Rega, the place he led improvements in UAVs and drones. He’s additionally a licensed pilot of assorted plane.
Re-engagement with Areion
On the industrial entrance, Dufour and Areion reaffirmed Areion’s buy of 40 Aero2 drones, with choices for an extra 100 plane sooner or later (Dufour and Spright beforehand introduced this largest-ever buy of civilian drones in 2023). Areion will proceed its enterprise growth with the Aero2 drone, specializing in vital items transport and different logistical functions. Dufour Aerospace’s Aero2 drone was showcased in Areion livery on the UP.Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, in September.
Swiss Scanning of Alps
Dufour Aerospace started collaborating with RIEGL, BSF Swissphoto, and the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Analysis SLF on a sequence of check flights to gather high-resolution information on alpine environmental hazards and power manufacturing. The testing goals to display the effectivity of drone utility as an alternative choice to conventional aerial laser scanning strategies.
Dufour Aerospace helps the venture with its 3-metre-wingspan AeroMini and 6-metre-wingspan Aero2 UAS platforms. The sequence of assessments are being ready and can begin with primary practical assessments in early 2025, later to be expanded to the Alpine area.
First Flight in Sweden
In September, Dufour Aerospace efficiently carried out buyer demonstrations and assessments on the Västervik airfield in Sweden, supported by the Västervik Drone Science Park and Savback Helicopters, certainly one of our strategic companions. Managed by Dufour’s Operations Group, our smallest plane, the AeroMini10, proved its value in real-world flying throughout 12 automated flights. The AeroMini10 is a scaled-down model of our 6-metre-wingspan Aero2 and has been useful for proof-of-concept operations and coaching functions.
Elysium Plane: Medical Logistics
Dufour Aerospace and Elysium Plane partnered to sort out a vital problem in healthcare logistics: the quick and dependable supply of medical provides to distant areas. Based in 2021, Elysium focuses on integrating drones into airspace operations whereas growing the mandatory infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and procedures to allow secure and environment friendly supply.
The crew is making ready to start flight assessments with the Dufour AeroMini10 in Loire-Atlantique, France. These trials will discover how drones may help ship important medical provides and organs over longer distances in an environment friendly, secure and environmentally pleasant manner.
Air Zermatt Collaboration
Dufour Aerospace has began a brand new collaboration with Air Zermatt, introduced in December. Air Zermatt is a globally acknowledged chief in rescue operations. This partnership goals to discover the usage of drones in enhancing emergency providers, notably within the rugged mountain terrain of the Valais area.
In a three-year program, Dufour Aerospace and Air Zermatt will analyze and check the usage of drones in rescue operations. As a part of the joint assessments, Dufour Aerospace may also look at how helicopters and drones can be utilized collectively with out posing a danger to one another.
Dufour Named a High Startup in Zurich
Dufour Aerospace has been ranked within the high ten of the LinkedIn High Startups for 2024 in Switzerland. For this rating, LinkedIn information was analyzed in 4 classes: Employment Development, Curiosity in Job Alternatives, Engagement with the Firm and its Workers, and Attracting High Expertise from LinkedIn High Corporations. Solely corporations headquartered in Switzerland which are unbiased and privately owned, have a minimum of 30 full-time workers, and are not more than seven years previous are thought-about.
It’s been a nice yr at Dufour Aerospace, and we’re prepared for motion in 2025.
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