Robinson electric helicopter sets world record for battery-powered flight

Gina Kvitkovich | Technology

Tier 1 Engineering 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 Friday, December 7. The helicopter was a modified Robinson R44 test-piloted by Capt. 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 FAA’s Los Angeles MIDO. Tier 1 Engineering accomplished the project under contract from Lung Biotechnology PBC to produce an electrically powered semiautonomous rotorcraft for organ delivery.