Blackfly Manned Drone - Delivered and Flying with Single Pilot

[DavePA11]

Blackfly - John C in DE flying

https://pivotal.aero/

 

[Aerofoam]

This has been flying for a few years, what is new?
The issues with the e-power are all centered around flight time, or lack there of.....

 

[DavePA11]

They are shipping to customers now. John in photo use to have a Magni M24 gyro, but sold and bought one of these. I think the one John got was the 4th one delivered. Sounds like they are switching over to the Helix version for larger production. It can fly for like 20 minutes or a few miles on a charge. Could fly for lunch, recharge for 75 minutes and fly back. What more can you ask for?

 

[Aerofoam]

More time......

 

[ultracruiser41]

They are shipping to customers now. John in photo use to have a Magni M24 gyro, but sold and bought one of these. I think the one John got was the 4th one delivered. Sounds like they are switching over to the Helix version for larger production. It can fly for like 20 minutes or a few miles on a charge. Could fly for lunch, recharge for 75 minutes and fly back. What more can you ask for?

More range

 

[EI-GYRO]

Single pilot ??
No good for me then. I'm married.

 

[Jazzenjohn]

I saw two of them fly at Oshkosh. They did a very good show, Far longer than any demo I have seen them perform in the past. Helix is the model name I think, and Pivotal is the company name now, I believe. was Black Fly and Opener.

 

[Aaron R]

I was back at the campground Tuesday evening at Oshkosh when they flew overhead. Here is a link to a short video of them buzzing around. They did not appear to be flying fast enough to get much wing lift. They were a bit quieter, and it was a deeper sound, than I was expecting, although they were only at 300 ft (I assume). It was somewhat eerie because of the unusual sound, the overcast, and the dark evening. Cool though.

I do think there is some ingenuity in the design simplicity. I would not personally want one due to the cost, endurance, and I'm guessing the high level of augmentation would steal some of the fun. The other reason I would not fly one is that, every time I do the math, even using the most creative approach, I can't figure out how it could be part 103 legal. I expect something will eventually happen, and after the investigation the party will be over.

 

[bugflyer]

I was back at the campground Tuesday evening at Oshkosh when they flew overhead. Here is a link to a short video of them buzzing around. They did not appear to be flying fast enough to get much wing lift. They were a bit quieter, and it was a deeper sound, than I was expecting, although they were only at 300 ft (I assume). It was somewhat eerie because of the unusual sound, the overcast, and the dark evening. Cool though.

I do think there is some ingenuity in the design simplicity. I would not personally want one due to the cost, endurance, and I'm guessing the high level of augmentation would steal some of the fun. The other reason I would not fly one is that, every time I do the math, even using the most creative approach, I can't figure out how it could be part 103 legal. I expect something will eventually happen, and after the investigation the party will be over.

I believe it's amphibious so weight limit is higher.
smiles,
Charles

 

[Jazzenjohn]

Im fairly sure they are getting an additional 60 pounds for the float body, as well as 24 pounds for a chute. That would put the weight limit at 328 pounds. The rules for electric aircraft regarding "fuel" don't make much sense to me at this time