BETA Delivers first piloted electric aircraft to DoD for experimentation
BETA Technologies has landed its all-electric aircraft at Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base, to begin a deployment period with the US Air Force. The aircraft will be utilised for a designated curriculum of experimentation over the course of a months-long deployment.
BETA’s ALIA aircraft will remain at Duke Field for several months to work with the 413th Squadron to conduct hands-on experimentation and training, and will validate use cases including critical resupply, cargo delivery, and personnel transport.
BETA flew ALIA down to Duke field, during which time ALIA covered more than 1,700 nautical miles across 12 states, including:
● A stop in Syracuse to meet with the Federal Interagency Working Group responsible for planning and coordination to integrate advanced air mobility aircraft into the national airspace system;
● Commissioning the first Electric Aircraft Charger in Massachusetts (Marshfield)
● Flying in the Class B airspace of Boston and New York City;
● Becoming the first all-electric aircraft cleared to fly into the highly restricted Washington DC Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) with its arrival onto Joint Base Andrews in Maryland;
● And breaking ground on the first electric aircraft charger in North Carolina at Raleigh Executive Jetport, in partnership with NCDOT and AFWERX.
Each flight was monitored by subject matter experts (SMEs), who captured gigabytes of data from the more than 12 hour-plus-long series of flights conducted. The Company was able to charge the aircraft at several of its own charging stations, including one of its newest sites, located in Marshfield, Massachusetts. This is one of 14 BETA chargers online today, with more than 60 additional sites in development or construction.
“For the past several years, AFWERX has provided critical input and support to the BETA programs,” said Kyle Clark, BETA’s Founder and CEO. “Deploying ALIA for experimentation and training at Duke Field is the natural next step in our partnership.”
AFWERX director Elliott Leigh added: “The Department of the Air Force is constantly searching for the next generation of technology to make our warfighters safer and more efficient. As agile innovators, we believe that partnering with American businesses is the key to this goal for delivering disruptive air capabilities.”