Electric helicopter sets Guinness World Record

The electric helicopter was a modified Robinson R44 test piloted by Captain Ric Webb of OC Helicopters.
LUNG Biotechnology Photo

By Vertical Magazine

Tier 1 Engineering has announced that it has set a Guinness World Record for the farthest distance traveled by an electric helicopter.

The battery-powered manned helicopter achieved a record 30-nautical-mile flight to 800 feet altitude with an average speed of 80 knots on Dec. 7.

The helicopter was a modified Robinson R44 test piloted by Captain Ric Webb of OC Helicopters.

All flights were accomplished at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield under a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category issued by the FAA’s Los Angeles MIDO.

Tier 1 Engineering accomplished the project under contract from Lung Biotechnology PBC to produce an electrically-powered semi-autonomous rotorcraft for organ delivery.