Heavylift Cargo Drone Flowcopter Completes Tests at HCA Airport

Scottish Company Conducts First Outdoor Trials in Denmark

In recent weeks, Scottish company Flowcopter has conducted successful tests of its heavylift cargo drone in the dedicated drone airspace at HCA Airport in Odense, Denmark. These tests mark Flowcopter’s first outdoor flight trials, with the company selecting HCA Airport as its European test base.

Flowcopter tested one of three FC100 drones built over the past year, aiming to validate a new class of Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS). These trials, which took place outside the UK, represent a significant milestone for the company’s FC100 cargo drone, designed for logistics, offshore, and agricultural applications.

“We are returning home with our technical readiness tests completed and will be implementing a design freeze to share this model with several interested clients,” stated Uwe Stein, Technical Director at Flowcopter.

Efficient Authorization Process

Stein highlighted the benefits of choosing HCA Airport, praising the efficient test facilities and streamlined authorization process facilitated by Danish authorities.

“We found the application process for flight authorisation to be incredibly smooth with a huge amount of support from the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority. It was also a great help for us that UAS Denmark Test Centre contributed with advice and experience in relation to preparing risk analyses for the flight permit,” Stein said.

Impressive Capabilities

Flowcopter’s “FC100” drone, referred to as an “utility copter” or “uUAS,” is engineered to deliver substantial lifting capacity over long distances. The drone can lift up to 100 kilograms over 200 kilometers and fly for up to three hours. These trials at the UAS Denmark Test Center validate Flowcopter’s technology, paving the way for future uUAS capable of carrying over 300 kilograms.

The uUAS employs a robust, low-cost hydraulic drive to control the propellers, offering a lightweight alternative to comparable electric systems. This is achieved through a fast control response Digital Displacement® pump driving hydraulic motors.

Early Adoption and Market Entry

Early adopters of Flowcopter’s technology are expected to include operators in agriculture, offshore wind, and search and rescue operations. Flowcopter is already in discussions with potential clients in the broader cargo logistics sector.

Michael Larsen, Head of UAS Denmark Test Centre, expressed pride in Flowcopter’s choice of HCA Airport and highlighted the strategic advantages for non-EU companies.

“We are happy and proud that Flowcopter has chosen HCA Airport and UAS Denmark Test Centre as its European test base. It underlines that we can offer a strong combination of good test facilities and easy access to getting your drone in the air,” said Larsen. He added, “So in this way, we are an easy entry point to the European market for drone companies that want to operate in the EU, and we are ready to help others who are in the same situation as Flowcopter.”

Flowcopter’s successful trials mark a significant advancement in the development of high-capacity, long-range UAS, setting the stage for broader applications and market entry in Europe.