Since December 2016, Elroy Air has been working on its planned autonomous freight-delivery aircraft called the Chaparral. The California-based startup achieved a first flight with its prototype in August 2019. In January 2020, the program received a boost through a partnership agreement with EmbraerX.
Elroy says it aims to achieved type certification for the Chaparral under FAA's Special Class 21.17 (b) rules in 2022.
The aim is that the Chaparral will be able to operate completely autonomously, including the loading and unloading of cargo payloads weighing up to 500 pounds. The hybrid-electric aircraft will be operate on routes of up to around 300 miles.
The program has received financial support from the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program.