The Lift Hexa, an electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft currently being evaluated by the US Air Force, completed its first test flight at Duke Field on July 6.
The unmanned aircraft, piloted via remote control, used 18 motors and propellers to fly for approximately 10 minutes and reach a height of about 50 feet.
As explained by the US Air Force, the test was an important first step towards the incorporating the Hexa into operations at a controlled, military airfield. Duke Field is an auxiliary field located North of Eglin’s main base. This flight was completed by Hexa 09, one of two aircraft stationed here. Hexa 05 was used for the first test flight in April.
Developed by LIFT Aircraft, a Texas-based Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract recipient, Hexa is part of Agility Prime, a non-traditional USAF program seeking to accelerate the commercial market for advanced air mobility vehicles (i.e. flying cars).
LIFT Aircraft is one of several contractors working with the US Air Force on the program.
The 413th Flight Test Squadron, the Air Forces’ rotary wing developmental test experts, has partnered with AFWERX’s Agility Prime to advance eVTOL test and experimentation. The unit, located at Duke Field, provides the coordination, logistics and support for the Lift team’s developmental ground and flight-testing operations.
“This is an opportunity to leverage some of the unit’s expertise with rotary aircraft and apply it to this new field of electric propulsion aircraft,” said Maj. Riley Livermore, 413th FLTS Futures Flight commander. “This flight was an important step in advancing the testing forward.”
