First four-engine cargo drone takes flight in China

China-based aerial vehicle company Tengden this week completed the first test flight of its four-engine “Twin-Tail Scorpion D” (TB0D) drone. The TB0D becomes the first four-engine cargo drone of its category to take flight. Taking off from Zigong Fengming Airport (ZKL) in Sichuan, the Oct. 25 test flight lasted eighteen minutes and was timed to coincide with the closing of the twentieth National Congress of the Communist Party of China as well as the upcoming Zhuhai Airshow from Nov. 8-13, according to a release. No errors or issues were reported with the test flight. [caption id="attachment_56860342" align="alignright" width="450"] The TB0D cargo drone has four engines and side cargo doors. (Photo/Tengden)[/caption] The TB0D has a wingspan of 20 meters, a length of 10.5 meters and a height of 3.1 meters, according to Tengden. It features a cargo compartment measuring 5 cubic meters in volume, with a maximum payload of 1.5 tonnes and a maximum takeoff weight of 4.35 tonnes. Chinese operators such as SF Express have shown interest in drone technology, tapping manufacturer Pipistrel to develop vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) cargo vehicles capable of carrying 300 kilograms. The maximum payload of the TB0D places it in a similar performance category as the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. Multiple companies in the United States, including Reliable Robotics and Xwing, have both begun developing automation platforms using the Cessna 208B, starting or acquiring their own airlines and reaching certification milestones with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) . Earlier this month, Xwing agreed to work with NASA on the development of its autonomous aircraft technology, while In September, Reliable Robotics entered a partnership with Astral Aviation to explore automated cargo operations in Africa. So far in 2022, drone technology has gained momentum in the cargo market with companies like Bristow Group committing to 100 of the Elroy Air Chaparral C1 and the Matternet M2 becoming the first FAA type-certified drone .

First four-engine cargo drone takes flight in China

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