The Cento aircraft has a carrying capacity of 45 kg with a range of up to 1,000 km thanks to the use of a durable hybrid powertrain.
American company MightyFly is developing Cento, an unmanned cargo aircraft with a large carbon fiber frame, New Atlas reported on January 25. Cento weighs 161 kg and has a carrying capacity of 45 kg. The vehicle is equipped with two long wings, eight propellers mounted on support rods that look almost like landing gear and a large rear propeller for efficient forward flight. In addition to avoiding traffic jams, it also flies at a top speed of 240 km/h, much faster than road transport.
The Cento has a range of up to 1,000 km thanks to its durable hybrid powertrain. The propulsion engines run on electricity, but an internal combustion engine uses hydrocarbon fuel to keep the battery full during flight.
Cento occupies an area of 4 m x 5 m, smaller than two cars. Therefore, when the aircraft starts commercial operation, customers only need to prepare such a small landing area to receive goods. They also don’t need to open the plane themselves. The vehicle will deploy an automatic conveyor belt from the cargo compartment, making it easy for people to pick up their items.
MightyFly said that Cento has been tested since December 2022. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the company a Special Airworthiness Certificate allowing it to fly tests, but has not yet been able to carry commercial cargo. Cento also has a certificate allowing it to fly within 596 km2, maximum altitude of 1,500 m, to test the transition from hovering in place to cruising. The company hopes Cento will soon make a 1,000-kilometer flight filled with cargo.
MightyFly has not announced when Cento is expected to go into commercial operation. The company is also developing another vehicle with a larger carrying capacity, up to 227 kg.
