T-REX, run by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E) Mission Capabilities, is the U.S. military’s premier test and evaluation event, designed to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across the Joint Force. Getting an invitation to T-REX means your system is ready to be stress-tested in real conditions, alongside real operators, with real mission requirements on the line.

This spring, Elroy Air brought Chaparral to T-REX 26–2 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Here’s what happened:

First Stop on the 2026 Road Trip

Chaparral arrived at Camp Atterbury after a 2,300-mile road trip, packed into a standard road trailer, no special equipment required.

One of the most underappreciated challenges in defense logistics is getting complex systems downrange without a convoy of support equipment, forklifts, specialized packaging, or lengthy reassembly processes. Chaparral was designed from the ground up to solve that problem. When it arrived on base, it was ready to fly.

The Deliveries

Over the course of the week, Chaparral completed a series of autonomous missions, traveling over 60 kilometers in a single sortie. On the final delivery mission, the Army provided the cargo, and Chaparral carried 233 pounds over a distance of 12 km.

These weren’t fully scripted demonstrations — our Defense partners made on-the-fly requests, changing cargo configurations and adjusting how we operated within military airspace. Our team adapted without missing a beat.

Every mission Chaparral flew was exactly on time. Punctuality may sound like a small thing, but in military operations, it’s everything.

Power at the Tactical Edge

Chaparral’s hybrid-electric architecture does something that most cargo drones don’t: it generates 50 kilowatts of onboard power both in the air and on the ground. That’s enough to charge batteries for soldiers’ devices, run communications and observation systems, power medical equipment, or keep temperature-sensitive cargo viable during transit.

At the tactical edge, where forward operating positions may lack reliable power infrastructure, this changes the calculus of what a resupply mission can accomplish. You’re not just delivering supplies. You’re delivering capability.

As our partners said again and again, Chaparral is a game-changer.

What Comes Next

We’re launching new contracts with our Marine Corps and Army partners to prepare Chaparral for seamless integration into military operations in contested environments. We’re honored to provide autonomous cargo delivery to safely resupply troops without putting people in harm’s way.

We’re grateful to the Indiana National Guard and everyone at Camp Atterbury for hosting us, and to the OUSW R&E team for the opportunity to demonstrate what Chaparral can do under real conditions.

Elroy Air builds Chaparral, an autonomous heavy-cargo drone designed for multi-mission logistics in contested environments. Learn more at elroyair.com.

Chaparral was purpose-built for autonomous logistics — moving critical supplies to the people and places that need them most. The unique hybrid-electric architecture that enables Chaparral to operate in the world’s most demanding environments also makes it a powerful energy asset.

Chaparral is a modular, multi-mission aircraft. Its hybrid-electric propulsion system generates up to 50 kW of spare onboard electrical power during flight. That figure is often discussed in the context of hosting Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors or communication payloads. But it represents something broader: Chaparral is not just a delivery drone — it’s a mobile power node. This capability directly supports the mission to close logistics gaps by autonomously delivering multi-class supplies and operational energy between Brigade Support Areas (BSA) and dispersed forward units.

Power That Travels With the Mission

Most cargo aircraft are passive carriers. Chaparral is different. Its onboard generation capability means surplus electrical power is available throughout the flight — not just at the point of origin or destination. This capability is central to Joint Force and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), where forward units increasingly operate beyond the reach of traditional logistics infrastructure and require energy delivery alongside materiel resupply.

The availability of power at Chaparral’s pod has immediate implications for temperature-sensitive cargo. Elroy Air is planning to develop a climate-controlled payload pod designed specifically to support blood and medical resupply operations, enabling the safe transport of temperature-sensitive materials into areas that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach quickly. This pod will not rely solely on passive insulation. It draws from Chaparral’s onboard power generation to actively maintain the required thermal environment for the duration of flight regardless of ambient conditions, altitude, or transit time.

This capability extends to every payload that benefits from active power during transit: communication equipment that needs to remain on, batteries that need to stay charged, and other electronic systems that need to arrive at their destination mission-ready rather than requiring a spin-up period after delivery.

Ground Power at the Edge: Chaparral as a Forward Energy Source

In austere forward operating environments — whether a disaster response staging area, a logistics support point, or a position beyond the reach of established infrastructure — electrical power is rarely abundant. Generators require fuel resupply. Solar is weather-dependent. And the demand for power at these locations is only increasing, driven by the proliferation of unmanned systems, advanced communications equipment, encrypted data terminals, AI inference and other compute tasks, and sensor networks that all require reliable energy to operate.

Chaparral’s hybrid-electric architecture allows it to function as a ground power unit upon landing. Rather than shutting down and sitting idle between missions, the aircraft can supply power to support field operations directly by charging the batteries of small unmanned aerial systems, powering communications and compute nodes, or providing energy to medical equipment that has been delivered alongside it.

For defense customers in particular, this creates a compound logistics effect. A single Chaparral sortie can deliver supplies and simultaneously extend the operational endurance of the assets already on the ground.

Supporting the Unmanned Ecosystem

This capability is especially relevant as military operations increasingly rely on constellations of small unmanned systems. Quadcopters, loitering munitions and one-way FPV drones, and other sUAS platforms require regular battery cycling. In high-tempo operations, the limiting factor for these systems is often the availability of power to keep them charged and flying.

Combined with its Air Drop capability, which supports mothership functions for air-launched effects and sUAS deployment, Chaparral can serve as both the delivery mechanism and the energy infrastructure for the unmanned systems it supports.

A New Definition of Logistics

Traditional logistics is measured in pounds delivered and miles covered. The Chaparral expands that definition. By treating onboard power generation as a mission resource rather than a byproduct of propulsion, Elroy Air has built an aircraft that provides additional capability at the point of delivery.

As defense and commercial operators continue to push capability further from established infrastructure, the ability to bring power with the payload is becoming as important as the payload itself. Chaparral is built for that future — not as a truck, but as a node: delivering, energizing, and enabling the operations it supports.

Over the last several years, the Elroy Air team has worked with stakeholders across the U.S. and allied forces, global logistics leaders, and major aircraft fleet operators including offshore and utility aviation providers. In every conversation — commercial, humanitarian, or defense — these teams have shared the many ways they envision the Chaparral advancing their operations.

Chaparral was purpose-built to provide modular, multi-mission capabilities on a single aircraft platform. This enables Chaparral to meet the needs of our customers today and to flex with the countless ways they will put it to work in the future.

We often share milestones and engineering breakthroughs. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on our Multi-Mission Pod System, the heart of Chaparral’s versatility, and the reason a single aircraft can serve so many different roles. Built around a highly modular architecture, Chaparral can carry a wide range of payload types, operate in diverse environments, and adapt quickly to new mission demands.

Pod Handling Designed Around Operational Flexibility

One of the most valuable aspects of the Chaparral’s pod system is the operational choice it gives users. Some missions require the pod be deposited and left behind for later unloading and retrieval. For others, operators can execute a cargo pod swap, picking up a fully loaded pod and continuing on. And when the mission calls for it, the aircraft can deliver cargo without leaving the pod behind at all, allowing teams to unload the pod directly from the aircraft and send the same pod onward. This flexibility ensures Chaparral can integrate seamlessly into a wide range of workflows, from high-tempo logistics cycles to destination-specific delivery requirements.

Chaparral Configurations

Express Pod (Open Top or Fabric Top)

The Express Pod is 27 cubic feet and features an open-top design for easy loading of smaller cargo items. With quick release buckle snaps for securing shipments, this configuration enables rapid loading and unloading operations.

Heavy Payload Pod (Nose Lift or Slide Cargo)

The Heavy Payload Pod uses a fairing-on-pallet design to ease loading of heavy cargo. This configuration offers 27 cubic feet of cargo space and features a standardized L-Track system for securing shipments, ensuring simple loading and safe travel for hefty items.

Hatch Load Pod

The Hatch Load Pod is Elroy Air’s cargo module designed for rapid attended ground operations. It remains attached to the Chaparral during loading and unloading, enabling streamlined workflows, and minimal ground handling requirements.

Case Attachment

The Case Attachment configuration is built to attach a rugged hard-shell enclosure engineered for maximum protection and rapid handling. The cargo system is designed for fast, intuitive operations, enabling quick loading and unloading with off-the-shelf Pelican or other hard cases. Any compatible Pelican case can be fitted into an 83 × 23-inch frame mounted beneath the fuselage, with 12 tie-down points securing each case to the frame for stable, safe transport.

Air Drop Pod

The Air Drop Cargo Pod was designed for humanitarian missions, optimized to deliver essential aid supplies including water, dry food, clothing, and emergency medical kits. The system integrates two internal airdrop hooks mounted within the pod, allowing secure attachment and controlled release during deployment. The pod is rear-loaded from the aircraft using a slide-in/slide-out interface that aligns directly with the hook system for fast, repeatable loading.

We are now collaborating with our U.S. military partners to adapt the pod to enable orchestration of battlefield assets, tactical resupply, enhancing reliability, durability, and deployment precision for supporting troops downrange. The Air Drop Cargo Pod can provide mothership capability for air launched effects for sUAS deployment at speed or from hover.

Climate-Controlled Pod

We are developing a climate-controlled pod option specifically designed to support blood and medical resupply operations. Climate-controlled pods will allow the safe transport of temperature-sensitive materials into areas that would otherwise be challenging — or impossible — to reach quickly and reliably.

XL Cargo Pod

The XL Cargo Pod offers an expanded interior with 59 cubic feet to accommodate bulkier items. This pod also features quick release buckle snaps for securing shipments and a configuration that enables rapid loading and unloading operations.

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Pod

Beyond cargo, the Chaparral’s hybrid-electric propulsion system, compatible with JP-5/8, provides up to 50 kW of onboard electrical power. This allows the aircraft to host ISR sensors, communications payloads, and other auxiliary equipment while in flight, transforming the aircraft into a flexible mission platform.

Because the pod interface is modular, operators can swap in specialized equipment packages to support a range of distributed operations. This can include sensor pods, communication relays, electronic support payloads, or other mission-specific kits. The aircraft can shift roles simply by changing the pod, without any structural modifications.

The Chaparral is built to enhance distributed logistics, particularly in settings where runways, large teams, or traditional infrastructure are unavailable. Its ability to autonomously carry supplies, equipment, and mission payloads into contested or disconnected environments gives operators a valuable new tool for executing modern concepts of operation.

Looking ahead, the aircraft’s autonomy, modularity, and electrical power capacity enable it to be a node in future battlefield orchestration, able to both move material and host sensors, extend networks, and support the flow of information and effects across a dynamic operational scenario.

Conclusion

Chaparral’s Multi-Mission Pod System is a flexible, mission-shaping architecture that lets a single aircraft perform countless roles. As commercial operators, humanitarian teams, and defense customers continue to imagine new applications, Chaparral is ready to evolve with them. By pairing modular design with autonomous operation and significant onboard power, Elroy Air is building a future-proofed aircraft that doesn’t just solve today’s logistics challenges, it opens the door to entirely new ways of moving goods, information, and mission effects through the world.

Earlier this year, The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) announced it would test the US-made Chaparral vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) for logistics operations between its islands.

“We are moving forward with the initiatives necessary for the introduction of various UAVs that can perform missions such as information gathering around Japan’s coasts and transportation of supplies to units deployed on islands,” the JGSDF stated.

The Elroy Air team hosted JGSDF for testing and evaluation of the Chaparral in September. Over the course of the week, our teams worked together to validate 22 key capabilities, including:

• Conducting a 25-mile point-to-point flight
• Flying a 300 lb cargo payload
• Maneuvering in strong winds
• Running stowage and maintenance exercises to evaluate operational fit

Chaparral passed all 22 test items to meet the requirements of our customers! These exercises provided valuable insights into how Chaparral can help transform logistics missions by bringing autonomy, flexibility, and new reach to cargo operations.

“Hosting JGSDF for this intensive week of testing was an important milestone for Elroy Air. Demonstrating Chaparral’s performance across 22 capabilities shows the strength and maturity of the system, and underscores the value it will bring to logistics missions in challenging environments,” said Elroy Air CEO Andrew Clare. “We’re proud of our team and grateful for the opportunity to work side by side with U.S. and allied forces as we advance the future of autonomous aerial logistics.”

Last week, Elroy Air welcomed leaders from across the commercial and defense sectors to a Demo Day at our flight test facilities in Byron, CA. Chaparral was on display and flew a 25-mile flight for attendees who also heard from our team and partners about the system’s unique capabilities and our plans to reshape the future of autonomous aerial cargo logistics.

Attendees experienced firsthand how the Chaparral combines long-range endurance with the flexibility of vertical takeoff and landing, opening new possibilities for rapid, efficient, and autonomous cargo delivery in both defense and commercial missions.

“It’s exciting to be part of revolutionary technology in aerospace. Watching today’s flight with the smooth transition from takeoff to wingborne flight and the aircraft’s remarkable stability was an absolute joy. The Chaparral’s hybrid propulsion and advanced flight control systems are clearly well designed,” said David Stepanek, Bristow’s Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer. “We’re excited about the opportunities this aircraft creates, enhancing the services we provide to existing customers and opening new markets through interchangeable pods, equipment, and mission profiles. We look forward to building on Bristow’s legacy of aviation leadership with this expansion of capabilities.”

Throughout the day, our team shared updates on technical progress, flight testing, and the path to scaling production. Partners had the opportunity to see the aircraft up close, ask questions of our leadership team, and discuss the mission profiles Chaparral will enable from troop resupply to humanitarian aid to commercial logistics.

After seeing the Chaparral take flight, Marlinspike’s Co-Managing Partner and CEO Neil Keegan commented: “The dream has become reality! From the start, we were drawn to how the Chaparral addresses both urgent Department of Defense needs and massive commercial market opportunities. We’re proud to support the Elroy Air team as they rapidly scale production to meet this growing demand.”

“Today’s been absolutely incredible. More than 30 stakeholders are here with us including our DoD partners, our earliest commercial customers, as well as investors — all who just got to see the Chaparral fly firsthand and hear from our team and partners as we work to scale production of the aircraft,” said Elroy Air CEO Andrew Clare. “There is so much excitement here today and it reflects the growing momentum we’re seeing as we realize the vision we’ve long been building towards.”

Today we welcome Mark Rodrigo to the Elroy Air team! Mark, who served as a captain in the United States Air Force joins us to lead Federal Business Development. As an intelligence officer, Mark spent his active duty career focused on ISR operations leveraging a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and space-based assets across five continents. While deployed in Kandahar, Mark partnered with American and multinational units to deliver high-impact support as the MQ-9 Reaper lead of a specialized sensor pod and mission set.

In the private sector, Mark has spent his career in Silicon Valley at the intersection of operations, engineering, and product development. His specialties include AI/ML, autonomous technology, and robotics with stints at Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and early-stage, multi-billion dollar startups.

We sat down with Mark to ask a few questions about his background, where he sees the future of Chaparral and why he’s excited to join Elroy Air.

Why did you join Elroy Air?

MARK: I’m excited to join Elroy Air and for the opportunity to bring the benefits of practical autonomy to where it is needed most — whether in support of military operations and contested logistics or by transforming commercial and humanitarian efforts.

I’ve spent my entire career around uncrewed and autonomous systems, from military drones to autonomous delivery robots in Silicon Valley. Elroy Air is the perfect intersection that allows me to blend serving a community, the United States military, that gave me so much with a capability that fills an immediate need.

You’ve led in both the military and private sectors. How has that experience shaped your perspective on the potential of dual-use technologies like Elroy Air’s Chaparral?

Wearing the uniform and balancing the day-to-day challenges of taking care of my Airmen while making sure the mission got done was one of the greatest privileges of my career; it provided me the perspective to quickly identify and prioritize the most critical aspects of a project/process and execute against it relentlessly.

The Chaparral fits into that paradigm in the sense that it can serve as a force multiplier in contested logistics that can support traditionally underserved or smaller units further removed from airfields and logistics hubs. As a former officer, I’m proud that we’re making life easier for operators at the edge and equipping the military for the future.

I’m excited to take the lessons I learned deploying autonomous robots in Silicon Valley and to apply them to aerial robotics. With its VTOL and modular payload capabilities, Chaparral is well positioned to support dynamic multi-domain operations from sea to air by bringing smaller assets closer to the location of need, preserving their fuel for mission critical tasks.

What impact do you see the Chaparral having on military and commercial logistics?

MARK: What excites me most about the Chaparral is the way that it can transform logistics for the military in the near term and increase efficiency for our commercial partners in the medium term. Much of the daily conveniences we take for granted in our lives are actually still fairly challenging or resource intensive for the military. We have to ask questions like:

• Is there an airfield capable of supporting our aircraft?
• Is our aircrew able to support the mission?
• Do we have the equipment or people to unload our delivery?

These questions never cross our mind when we click “Add to Cart” — and soon much of our military won’t have to ask these questions either. Chaparral can simplify the logistical challenges the military faces on a daily basis and allow them to focus on the mission and tasks at hand.

What attracted you to aerospace?

MARK: As a kid, I always loved going to the airshow at the naval base my dad was assigned to and of course we loved the movie Top Gun.

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to have a fantastic Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. (JROTC) teacher who told me about his experience at the Air Force Academy and how it shaped a lot of who he was. I was fortunate enough to be accepted to the Air Force Academy and have had a keen interest in aerospace ever since.

On active duty I had the opportunity to use some incredible technology and even after transitioning to the civilian world, I’ve always looked for ways to continue to give back and be involved in the sector.

How do you see this industry transforming over the next decade?

MARK: In the next decade we’re going to see a revolution in the mobility and logistics space that requires thoughtful, flexible delivery capabilities with limited dependencies on physical infrastructures. Elroy Air is well positioned to shape the next phase of logistics and delivery. Nothing on the market today provides the flexibility and dynamic mission sets that the Chaparral has with its autonomous operating capabilities.

Welcome to the team, Mark!

by: Andrew Clare, CEO of Elroy Air

Aviation has always been my passion and inspiration. Born and raised in the “cradle of aviation” in Long Island, NY, I spent countless hours at airports, gazing up at the sky and memorizing the names of different aircraft. In high school, my fascination only grew — so much so that I embarked on an independent research project on supersonic aircraft, driven by a deep desire to understand and push the limits of technology.

That passion led me to MIT, where I studied aeronautical engineering and immersed myself in research that allowed me to innovate at the forefront of aerospace technology. The internships I did at the Army Research Lab working in the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel modeling aeroelastic coupling in tiltrotors, at GE Aviation developing military engine cycle simulations, and at Aurora Flight Sciences building towards an automated air traffic control system for NASA all grew my knowledge and appreciation of the exciting opportunities within aerospace.

Autonomy began to revolutionize aviation during my graduate studies, and I became captivated by its potential. As a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) fellow, my Ph.D. work took me into the field alongside forward-deployed military personnel, where I witnessed firsthand the opportunities and challenges of deploying autonomous UAS. We worked closely with those teams to ensure that what we built wasn’t just innovative — it met soldiers’ needs.

This foundation shaped my journey through leadership roles in automotive and robotics. From advancing innovation and ramping production while leading the Model X vehicle program at Tesla to driving groundbreaking deployments of AI-driven autonomous vehicles as the CTO of Nuro, I’ve had the privilege of scaling technology to meet real customer needs in multiple safety-critical industries.

Today, I’m honored to take on the role of CEO at Elroy Air, a company that has already redefined what’s possible in autonomous aerial logistics. The team here has built something remarkable — pioneering a new category and delivering transformative capabilities for both commercial and defense applications.

My goal is to build on this legacy. We are on a mission to transform logistics with autonomous aircraft that operate safely and efficiently in complex environments — delivering value to our commercial partners and critical solutions to those serving on the front lines.

Coming back to a sector that ignited my career feels like a full-circle moment. The Department of Defense invested in me early on, fueling my passion for aerospace innovation and giving me the tools to think boldly about how technology can support critical missions. We have an amazing opportunity to not only provide capabilities that drive efficiency but that save lives.

At Elroy Air, we’re building middle-mile cargo teleportation. The Chaparral is a powerful tool to load, fly, and unload 300 lbs of cargo up to 300 miles — autonomously. It achieves all this at one-tenth the capital and operational expenses of piloted military helicopters, while also providing the significant safety benefits of autonomous flight with no onboard personnel. This is especially critical in contested logistics environments. Why risk soldiers’ lives to drive or fly cargo when autonomous aircraft can handle the mission?

The three aspects of the Chaparral that immediately resonated with me are its hybrid-electric powertrain, the modular external cargo pod, and the design for rapid global deployment. We were the first to fly a turbogenerator hybrid-electric aircraft in November 2023, which is a major advantage for utilizing existing infrastructure, especially for the military. No need to install chargers, and it provides extended middle-mile range capabilities. The Chaparral autonomously picks up and drops off swappable external cargo pods using onboard sense and compute to optimize unattended ground logistics, and we offer customizable pods for different use cases. Finally, the Chaparral can be stowed inside a standard shipping container and standard military transport aircraft for rapid deployment around the world. Most aircraft with a 300 pound payload capacity don’t offer this deployment flexibility.

The moment is right to grow a business in autonomous aircraft — the core technical challenges can be solved, the supply chain is maturing, defense and commercial customer demand is growing, and the regulatory frameworks are coming into place to integrate UAS into the airspace safely. Our C1 aircraft has been flying successfully with an increasing operational tempo. We recently demonstrated its capabilities, including a 300 pound vertical lift flight and multiple fully autonomous flights, for the U.S. Marines at the Yuma Proving Ground. And we’re in a number of active discussions to partner with manufacturers to scale production to meet strong customer demand while maintaining high capital efficiency.

The sky is not the limit — it’s just the beginning. We are tackling the $8B defense aerial logistics market, the $4B humanitarian logistics market, and the $160B medium range commercial logistics market. As we embark on this next phase, I’m excited to partner with our customers, collaborate with industry leaders, and push the boundaries of what autonomous aviation can achieve. The journey ahead is ambitious, but I’m confident that together we will take Elroy Air to even greater heights.

Thank you to the entire Elroy Air team and our customers, partners, and investors for welcoming me on board. The work we do here will shape the future of logistics and autonomy, and I couldn’t be more honored to lead us forward.

Let’s fly.

It was 2017 and the Marines had a logistics problem. It was my first of many visits to the Pentagon, and as I sat down with a USMC Captain, I noticed commercial drones and drone parts everywhere: perched on desks, hanging from the ceiling, and in the corners of the room. US troops were being killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan, and all hands were on deck to find solutions to this lethal problem. Six months earlier I had started Elroy Air with my friend and co-founder Clint Cope, an experienced product designer with an expansive knowledge of manufacturing techniques and sourcing hard-to-find components.

Clint and I had experience developing small unmanned systems at drone startups that tried to compete head-to-head with China’s DJI. Together we recognized a huge unmet potential for larger cargo drones. A series of discussions with forward-looking logisticians at organizations that would become our partners — FedEx, humanitarian aid shippers, and US military logisticians — led to our design of Chaparral: an autonomous vertical take-off and landing delivery drone for middle-mile express shipping, humanitarian aid, and military resupply.

Military strategists understand that logistics wins wars. Logistics were a critical component of the Allied victory in the Normandy campaign during World War II, and logistics missteps by the Russians hindered their invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As we concluded our conversation that 2017 morning at the Pentagon, the USMC Captain made the need for Chaparral crystal-clear, saying: “If I had that (Chaparral), I’d take it to Afghanistan with me when I ship back out next month!”

As we’ve worked with our partners over the years, their message has been consistent: runway-independent cargo UAS capable of moving a few hundred pounds across a few hundred miles will be hugely valuable. The impact of Chaparral will be expanded express networks for commercial shippers, immediate aid and relief in disaster, fire-fighting, and humanitarian situations, and rapid autonomous resupply for troops in the field.

As the Elroy Air team has worked to design, build and test the Chaparral, here are a few things we’ve learned:

To fly far, fly on wings!

There’s an old joke: “Helicopters don’t fly; they beat the air into submission.” Wings are nature’s evolved solution to powered flight, and winged aircraft can feature exceptional lift-to-drag ratio versus helicopters and multi-copter aircraft. It’s no coincidence that the majority of our peers in the electric air taxi industry have also adopted wing-based “lift-plus-cruise” aircraft configurations, to squeeze maximum range out of their battery-powered designs.

Redundancy = safety

With eight independent vertical lift rotors, Chaparral can handle motor-out / rotor-out scenarios safely, completing its mission even if something goes wrong. The quad-rotor configuration — popular with consumer camera-drones and some larger unmanned systems — lacks this critical redundancy, creating a single-point failure risk at each rotor-head.

Low mechanical complexity = low maintenance burden

Chaparral’s key moving parts are its turboshaft engine, flight-surface servos, and electric motors — all high-reliability systems with well-characterized maintenance intervals. In order to keep the maintenance effort and cost burden for Chaparral operations reasonable, we avoided introducing mechanical complexity for flight-critical systems wherever possible. A key example of this is our use of fixed pitch rotors — avoiding the costly frequent maintenance that variable-pitch rotorheads (both vertical, and tail-rotor heads) require.

Automated cargo saves turnaround time and reduces personnel burden

This capability is really unique to our aircraft: Chaparral has automated payload pickup/dropoff robotics enabling high utilization of the vehicle for continuous operation. We designed this feature to match the efficiency of drop-shipping, in which a truck can drop off one load and pick up another — the driver continuing on her way and keeping the power unit (the cab) highly utilized, good for operational economics. We discovered along the way that Chaparral’s ability to pick up and deliver supplies in unattended / unsafe areas is also transformational for humanitarian and military shippers, who sometimes can’t guarantee safety in the locations where they operate.

Hybrid-electric is the right technology for the near-future

The redundancy and minimal mechanical complexity of distributed electric propulsion is good for autonomy and a low maintenance burden. But batteries are not yet energy-dense enough to power long-range (multi-100-mi) flights for a VTOL aircraft like Chaparral. Also, battery charging infrastructure is not reliably available in defense, humanitarian, and commercial missions in austere locations. The solution is a hybrid-electric architecture, which we have developed over years of sustained effort at Elroy Air. Chaparral’s vertical and forward propulsion motors are electric, and the aircraft has a battery pack to store electrical power and drive its motors. A gas turbine generator acts as a range-extender, providing a source of electrical power to recharge the battery, as well as contributing direct electrical power to the propulsion system. The result: safe redundant propulsion, with longer-range and flexible operations vs battery-electric aircraft.

Moonshots are for billionaires, build an MVP

Air-taxi companies need a few billion dollars to get their aircraft certified and into commercial operations. This capital requirement derives from the necessary team size and composition, the scope and duration of R&D and FAA certification process required to develop a passenger-ready system, and for those producing vehicles on their own — the stand-up of scaled manufacturing. A cargo UAS like Chaparral on the other hand, is low cost to develop and field by comparison.

Today Elroy Air has more than 1,000 Chaparral vehicles in its commercial and humanitarian demand backlog (LOIs / MOUs / Master Purchase Agreements), representing $3B+ of future revenue opportunity. 140 units of the backlog are deposit-backed agreements, with paid deposits on 25 vehicles and options on 115.

The journey is long and difficult to develop and field a new unmanned aircraft like Chaparral, but we are a determined and resilient team with visionary investors and advisors. The USMC Captain in the Pentagon who gave me the early insight about the need for Chaparral on the battlefield has since transitioned to new assignments — but his words inspired us to action. At Elroy Air we are pushing hard every day to get Chaparral downrange, to serve his colleagues and our country.

• Dave Merrill, Co-Founder and CEO of Elroy Air

The Elroy Air team recently demonstrated our autonomous cargo delivery system at Travis Air Force Base! The demonstration was part of Mobility Guardian 2023, a large Air Mobility Command (AMC) full-spectrum readiness exercise. Below is a behind the scenes look at the demonstration. Read the full press release here.

· Bristow secured early delivery positions via deposit and will receive some of the first commercially certified Elroy Air Chaparral aircraft off the production line

· The Chaparral will carry 300 pounds (136 kg) of cargo over a 300-mile (482 km) range with its hybrid-electric powertrain and simple, redundant vertical and forward-flight propulsors

· Bristow plans to use the Chaparral internationally to move time-sensitive cargo for logistics, healthcare, and energy applications

· Bristow has pre-ordered up to 100 Chaparral aircraft

SAN FRANCISCO and HOUSTON, September 5, 2023 — Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: VTOL), the world’s leading global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions, has reserved early delivery slots for five of Elroy Air’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo systems, the Chaparral. Bristow signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Elroy Air to pre-order 100 Chaparral hybrid-electric cargo VTOL aircraft last year.

The Chaparral will be the first of its kind VTOL aircraft dedicated to cargo movement to be introduced into Bristow’s aircraft fleet. Bristow plans to use the Chaparral internationally to move time-sensitive cargo for logistics, healthcare, and energy applications.

“There is an increasing demand for the movement of time-sensitive cargo for logistics, health care and energy applications. Securing these early delivery positions underscores our commitment to leading the Advanced Air Mobility market and builds on our 75+ year legacy of vertical lift innovations,” said Bristow Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Dave Stepanek. “At Bristow, we’re excited to usher in a new era of vertical lift operations and collaborate with Elroy Air to meet the emerging market of express shipping cargo in cities and regions without relying on existing or new airport infrastructure.”

The Chaparral is a “lift plus cruise” hybrid eVTOL cargo aircraft that leverages the benefits of both conventional turbines and electric propulsion, for efficient autonomous operation and longer range. Engineered with an advanced carbon composite airframe, Chaparral can be configured to ship inside a 40-foot container or in aircraft for rapid global deployment.

Elroy Air has introduced advanced modular cargo pods that complement the Chaparral’s capabilities. The pods are pre-loaded by ground personnel and autonomously retrieved by the Chaparral aircraft before takeoff. Upon arrival at the delivery location, the aircraft autonomously lowers the pod to the ground. The Chaparral aircraft then retrieves the next pre-packed pod, creating a seamless bi-directional conveyor belt through the sky.

“Getting to this stage of the process — reserved delivery positions secured with deposits, underscores our relationship built with Bristow and we are extremely pleased to be at this stage in development,” said Elroy Air’s VP of Business Development and Strategy, Kofi Asante. “Bristow’s expertise is a strong catalyst for bringing new aircraft like ours to the market. Their rotorcraft expertise, global footprint, and innovative mindset have made them a strong partner and we are excited for the next chapter together. We look forward to seeing the Chaparral operate internationally as part of the Bristow fleet.”

Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements represent Bristow Group Inc.’s (the “Company”) current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” or “continue,” or other similar words. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and therefore are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the capabilities, development, certification, marketing, and future operations of Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric aircraft, the Company’s purchase of aircraft from Elroy Air, and the anticipated benefits of the collaboration between the Company and Elroy Air. The Company’s actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to provide any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based that occur after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these matters or how they may affect us. We have included important factors in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the “Transition Report”) which we believe over time, could cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. You should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Transition Report and in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), all of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

About Bristow Group

Bristow Group Inc. is the leading global provider of innovative and sustainable vertical flight solutions. Bristow primarily provides aviation services to a broad base of offshore energy companies and government entities. Bristow’s aviation services include personnel transportation, search and rescue (“SAR”), medevac, fixed wing transportation, uncrewed air systems and ad-hoc helicopter services. Bristow currently has customers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the Dutch Caribbean, the Falkland Islands, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad, the U.K., and the U.S. To learn more, visit our website at www.bristowgroup.com.

About Elroy Air

Elroy Air is developing industry-first autonomous aircraft systems and cutting-edge software solutions, revolutionizing the world of express shipping. Leveraging hybrid-electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, their vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) systems transcend traditional airport limitations, unlocking new frontiers in commercial air cargo. From swift autonomous resupply for troops to dynamic disaster response and firefighting support, their technology reshapes logistics possibilities. With headquarters in South San Francisco, California, Elroy Air is backed by premier venture capital firms including Catapult Ventures, Marlinspike Capital, Snowpoint Ventures, and Shield Capital. Strategic investments from industry giants like Lockheed Martin Ventures and, alongside support from visionary angel investors including early Uber executives, drive our mission to provide same-day delivery to every person on the planet. For more information, visit http://elroyair.com.

Elroy Air Contact

Media:
Casey Sousa
media@elroyair.com

Bristow Contacts

Investors
Jennifer Whalen
+1 713.369.4692
InvestorRelations@bristowgroup.com

Media
Adam Morgan
+1 832.783.7927
Adam.morgan@bristowgroup.com