Robo Air Taxi Makes First Flight At Oregon Airport

By Tom Banse February 5, 2018

Listen

The Airbus subsidiary behind a self-flying, battery-powered passenger drone says the prototype has made its first flight at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton.

According to the Airbus Vahana Project blog, the pilotless single-seat aircraft lifted off vertically, ascended about 16 feet before slowly descending and landing. The short-but-sweet first flight last Wednesday lasted all of 53 seconds.

Since then, the electric shuttlecraft has flown more. The next milestone will be transitioning the tilting wings and eight propellers to horizontal flight and following pre-set routes over Pendleton’s unmanned aircraft test range.

Airbus has said the aircraft certification process should take about three years. The company says a two-passenger variant may eventually be the primary production model for urban commuting and autonomous air taxi markets.

Vahana – Passenger Experience from Vahana on Vimeo.

Drone skills 101: Special forces train for Ukraine in Methow Valley

It’s been more than a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Thousands of fighters and civilians have died. With no clear end in sight, Ukrainian forces are taking all the help they can get – including from surveillance drone pilots, trained in Washington’s Methow Valley. Continue Reading Drone skills 101: Special forces train for Ukraine in Methow Valley

March 17, 2023

a pile of red salmon gather in green water

Drones could help researchers count salmon nests

A drone image of salmon during spawning season in Alaska. CREDIT: Daniel Auerbach LISTEN READ Searching for the places where salmon lay eggs, known as redds, is getting a boost… Continue Reading Drones could help researchers count salmon nests

October 21, 2022

A balloon more than 100 feet tall loitered over the Moose Fire in Idaho for 11 days in early August to demonstrate its surveillance capabilities to wildfire commanders.

Up, Up And Away. Forest Service Looking At Special Balloons To Monitor Big Wildfires

The U.S. Forest Service is looking at something different — very different — to improve situational awareness at big wildfires: high altitude balloons. Continue Reading Up, Up And Away. Forest Service Looking At Special Balloons To Monitor Big Wildfires

August 19, 2022