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Dailymirror.news,India,October 25, 2024:BluJ Aero, an innovative leader in clean technology, showcased prototype of its groundbreaking VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft in a live flight demonstration at Nadergul Airfield near Hyderabad. This event marks a milestone in the development of India’s first Hydrogen-Electric VTOL, advancing autonomous and zero-emission regional air mobility.
The demonstration underscored BluJ Aero’s capabilities in Hydrogen-Electric propulsion and autonomous flight technologies. It attracted key stakeholders from the aerospace industry and venture capital firms, demonstrating the company’s role in redefining regional air mobility for both cargo and passenger transportation. BluJ Aero’s technology enables rapid transit between key cities like Bengaluru-Mysuru, Chennai-Pondicherry, Mumbai-Pune, and Hyderabad-Warangal in under 30 minutes, without the need for traditional airport infrastructure.
BluJ Aero’s REACH: A Game Changer in Mid-Mile Logistics
BluJ Aero introduces REACH, an unmanned logistics aircraft designed for long-range, heavy payloads with high uptime, ensuring zero emissions. This aircraft is set to transform regional air transport by offering:
- Payload Capacity: 100 kg
- Range: 300 km on a single charge using Hydrogen-Electric Propulsion
- Flight Mode: Fully autonomous with real-time monitoring and control
- Zero Emission: Powered by BluJ Aero’s proprietary Hydrogen Fuel Cell system
REACH’s vertical take-off and landing capabilities make it ideal for connecting underserved regions, facilitating same-day delivery across the country. This positions REACH uniquely for the mid-mile logistics market, enhancing India’s logistics network for e-commerce and high-value goods delivery.
Speaking at the event, Utham Kumar, Co-Founder and CTO of BluJ Aero,said:”This first flight represents an important milestone in our vision of transforming aerial mobility with sustainable technologies. We are proud to be building Hydrogen-Electric VTOL aircraft, showcasing Indian innovation in propulsion and autonomy. Our goal is toenable fast, green, and commercially viable air transport for both Civil and Defence sectors. Today’s event is a significant step towards achieving that dream, and we are committed to bringing this cutting-edge technology to market, with the support of our team, investors, advisors, customers and regulatory partners.”
Key Milestones & Vision:
- India’s First-Powered VTOL:BluJ Aero’s aircraft are the first Hydrogen-Electric VTOLs to be designed and manufactured in India, showcasing Indian innovation in clean energy propulsion and autonomous flight.
- Largest Privately Built Aircraft: With an AUW of around 500 kg, the demonstrated aircraft is the largest privately developed in India, representing a breakthrough in the aerospace startup ecosystem.
- Ground Testing of Proprietary Gen 1 Fuel Cell: The event demonstrated BluJ Aero’s proprietary Gen 1 Hydrogen-Electric propulsion system, enabling zero-emission, long-range flights.
- Passenger and Cargo: Reshaping regional mobility by complementing and easing the load of existing ground infrastructure
BluJ Aero is actively developing a defence variant of the aircraft for high-altitude, multi-utility use cases, including relief and supply missions in remote and challenging environments. The aircraft’s ability to operate in difficult conditions and deliver essential supplies to otherwise inaccessible regions highlights its versatility and critical role in defence operations.
BluJ Aero is supported by leading venture capital firms, including Endiya Partners, Ideaspring Capital, and Rainmatter Capital by Zerodha.
NaganandDoraswamy Managing Partner and Founder, Ideaspring Capital sums up “These aircrafts have fantastic potential to disrupt regional air mobility market. They are aligned with the Make in India for the World initiative that Ideaspring Capital believes in and demonstrates our nation’s capability to lead in advanced aviation technology. By ground-testing their proprietary hydrogen fuel cell system, BluJ Aero is doing pioneering work and laying the foundation for a new era of zero-emission flight.”
