Le Ciel Drone Co. Completes Landmark Fixed-Wing Drone Flights Over Ise Bay

Japanese-Made QUKAI MEGA FUSION 3.5 Demonstrates 120 km Logistics Mission for Disaster Relief

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.

Le Ciel Drone Co., a Japanese developer of mid-size fixed-wing logistics drones, alongside Kao Corporation and Qukai Co., Ltd., recently announced successful flight testing that saw two drones laden with 50kg payloads complete flights between Kao’s Toyohashi Factory and Ise ( an approximately 120 km, or a hair under 75 mile round trip) and between Toyohashi Factory and Minamichita (an approximately 80 km, or just a little bit under 50 mile round trip).

This was the first long-distance Level 3 flight by a fixed-wing aircraft across Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay in Japan. This demonstration was conducted as part of Kao’s “Kaozora” project, an initiative aimed at social implementation. The flights were conducted using the made-in-Japan QUKAI MEGA FUSION 3.5, which features an overall length of 2480mm alongside an overall width of 3500mm. It weighs 12kg (without a battery) and can take a maximum load of 10kg with a maximum range of 400km. The total package is perfect for mid-range flights like those in the test, with a total possible flight time of 350min, a maximum speed of 150km/h, and (important in a logistics drone) a minimum speed of 40km/h.

It uses a newly developed 40cc gasoline engine with a starter motor as the power unit for horizontal flight and features toolless, “5-minute” assembly and disassembly. The payload used featured supplies like those that would be needed in the event of an emergency, representing the pressing need in Japan for disaster relief solutions (including UAVs). the Ise bay is home to three different fault lines, (believed to be the source of the 1586 Tenshō earthquake, estimated at a magnitude 8) and Japan is one of the most disaster-prone areas on earth, meaning logistics drones could save lives.

More information and the original press release (in Japanese) is available here.

Want DRONELIFE news delivered to your inbox every weekday?  Sign up here.

Read more:

• New Japanese Agriculture Spray Drone: 1.5 Hectares on 1 Battery
• Kanazawa Institute’ VTOL Drone Aims for New Heights in Japan
• SkyDrive Secures Certification Basis for eVTOL from Japan Civil Aviation Bureau