As part of a deal between Air Methods and Spright, the U.S. helicopter operator's drone division, Dufour Aerospace will acquire 140 uncrewed tilt-wing aircraft with an uncrewed tilt-head. Moreover, Spright will provide training for other North American operators as well as flight testing, production, and maintenance for the Aero2, according to an agreement announced on November 4.

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Initially, 40 Aero2s will be ordered for a multi-year agreement with options to purchase another 100. The FAA will validate the approval for the U.S. market after Dufour certifies the aircraft in Europe under the EASA's rules for light uncrewed air vehicles. By 2025, the type certification will be completed and the first deliveries will begin.

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Joseph Resnik, Spright president, described the Aero2 as an "amazing Swiss army knife" in terms of its versatility in air mobility, and said that the hybrid-electric aircraft would be used mostly for transporting medical samples and supplies over medium and long distances. There is a projected range of around 400 km (250 miles) and a payload of 40 kg (88 pounds).

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Having already flown earlier development versions since around 2020, Dufour started testing two prototypes earlier this year at Dübendorf airfield. Aero2 says it will begin building pre-production models of the Aero2 shortly after the preliminary design review for type certification has been completed.

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Its architecture will be similar to its eight-person piloted Aero3 eVTOL, which is mainly developed for emergency medical flights, according to Dufour CEO Thomas Pfammeter. In the meantime, the company is concentrating on the Aero2 project while the 45-strong team works on the design of the larger aircraft.

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Spright was established in 2021 by Air Methods, a company that specializes in medical flight services. With German drone developer Wingcopter, the new business unit already has a contract in place. A waiver agreement with the FAA allows the company to operate drones in designated areas, according to Resnik. Until regulation gradually widens permitted uses for the new aircraft by 2025, some operational restrictions are likely to remain in place. To clear the way for drones to fly in more populous areas, Pfammeter said more safety redundancy will be required.

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As part of its product support services, Spright will establish a 15,000-square-foot facility in Gilbert, Arizona, to support the Aero2.