CybAero’s APID 60 Performs Demonstration for China’s AVIC
CybAero’s APID 60 Performs Demonstration for China’s AVIC
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| CybAero’s APID 60, which recently peformed a demonstration in China. Photo courtesy CybAero. |
By Brett Davis
Sweden’s CybAero says it has performed demonstration flights on location for a new customer, Aviation Industry Corp. of China, or AVIC, which plans to buy at least 50 of the company’s unmanned helicopters in the next five years.
The demonstrations were held in July and August and showcased the APID 60 aircraft’s potential for uses such as agriculture, pipeline inspection and rescue operations, CybAero says.
“The weather conditions were challenging, with 35 degree Celsius heat and strong winds. But the helicopter functioned just as it was supposed to, so we were able to show that it could fly in tough conditions,” says CybAero’s Mikael Hult. “Being on-site allowed us to discuss our customer’s requirements in greater detail, and AVIC has initiated talks and negotiations with potential customers.”
CybAero and AVIC signed a framework deal in July that called for the purchase of at least 20 of the systems in the next three years, with the remaining to follow within five years. The deal is worth up to 800 million Swedish krona ($113 million).
