Boeing has successfully completed the first outdoor flight test of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV). The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operated in a safe and controlled environment, successfully took off, hovered, transitioned to forward flight, and then landed safely.

Initially unveiled in 2018, the CAV has evolved from an initial concept built in three months by fifty engineers to a prototype air vehicle. Powered by 12 propellers in a six dual-rotor arrangement, the CAV is designed to carry a payload up to 500 pounds.

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William Kucinski is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Contact him regarding any article or collaboration ideas by e-mail at william.kucinski@sae.org.