Dronamics to unveil first production Black Swan aircraft

Dronamics, a developer and operator of large cargo drones, is set to launch its Black Swan unmanned plane that can fly cargo at the cost of road freight.

On December 7, at Bulgaria’s Sofia Airport, London and Sofia-based Dronamics will reveal “the most fuel-efficient cargo airplane ever built”.

Said a spokesperson: “Deceptively simple, the Black Swan isn’t just another UAV, it’s a whole new class of aircraft.

“Able to carry up to 350 kg of cargo at a distance of up to 2,500 km at up to 80% lower cost than any aircraft in existence, the Black Swan can operate from runways as short as 400 meters, unpaved, and will enable Dronamics to serve customers in even the smallest and most remote communities, ushering in a whole new era in fast, affordable airfreight for the whole world.”

The company said that operators will no longer be forced to choose between low-cost road freight that can take days to deliver or fast air freight that is ever so expensive, adding that same day, affordable airfreight is finally here.

Svilen Rangelov, Dronamics co-founder and chief executive, said: “The unveiling of the Black Swan represents a critical milestone in the company’s mission to enable same-day shipping for everyone everywhere.

“The years of hard work are paying off and as soon as we’re done with our extensive test program and obtain certification in 2022, we are going to begin commercial operations, serving customers in Europe and beyond years ahead of everyone else.”

Konstantin Rangelov, Dronamics co-founder and CTO, said: “For more than 100 years people have designed airplanes for humans first, meaning they were never really optimized for cargo, and in fact, they’re quite inefficient.

“By being extremely focused solely on carrying cargo, we were able to develop an aircraft that is able to do the job at up to 80% lower cost than any other airplane, meaning we can bring the benefits of aviation to billions of people around the world who do not get regular air service.”

Dronamics plans to roll out a global network of droneports, allowing the Black Swan to provide the missing “middle mile” in airfreight.

Added the spokesperson: “Whether ferrying vital supplies between islands or delivering critical spare parts deep into a country, Dronamics will link towns and cities around the world with each other in a way simply never possible before.

“Able to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel, it will do so in a more environmentally friendly manner than any previous aircraft in existence, enabling global partners like DHL and Hellmann Logistics to not only serve their customers in the fastest way possible, but also in the greenest one as well.”

The launch of the Black Swan will be live streamed online at 19:30 CET on December 7, for more information visit www.dronamics.com/unveiling.