Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company, is a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced unmanned systems and aerospace vehicles.

N83AU is in fact Boeing’s new Autonomous eVTOL (Electronic Vertical Takeoff) PAV (Passenger Air Vehicle) which made its first flight on 22 January 2019 from Manassas, VA. Aurora Flight Sciences is already well known for its solar powered Odysseus aircraft and in November 2017 was purchased by Boeing.
The test flight represents the latest milestone for Boeing NeXt. The division works with regulatory agencies and industry partners to lead the responsible introduction of a new mobility ecosystem and ensure a future where autonomous and piloted air vehicles safely coexist. In addition to the PAV, the Boeing NeXt portfolio includes an unmanned fully electric cargo air vehicle (CAV) designed to transport up to 500 pounds (226.80 kilograms) and other urban, regional and global mobility platforms. The CAV completed its first indoor flight last year and will transition to outdoor flight testing in 2019.

“Boeing was there when the aviation industry was born and in our second century, we will unlock the potential of the urban air mobility market,” said Steve Nordlund, vice president and general manager of Boeing NeXt. “From building air vehicles to airspace integration, we will usher in a future of safe, low-stress mobility in cities and regions around the world.”

PAV is an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft or air taxi. It represents the next generation of autonomous electric aircraft that are safer, quieter, and cleaner. The PAV prototype provides a solution to the transportation challenges of the future while integrating into today’s current transportation systems.

Photo Rob Vogelaar