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Beta Technologies

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Beta Technologies
Private
IndustryAerospace
Founded2017
FounderKyle Clark
HeadquartersSouth Burlington, Vermont, United States
ProductsElectric aircraft and charging infrastructure
Number of employees
650 (April 2024)[1]
Websitebeta.team

Beta Technologies (stylized as BETA Technologies), is a South Burlington, Vermont-based aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft for the cargo, medical passenger, and military aviation industries.[2][3] The company has also developed a network of chargers which can supply power to their aircraft and other electric vehicles.[4][5] Training programs for future electric aircraft pilots and maintainers are also provided.[6]

The company was founded by Kyle Clark in 2017 and by 2024 had 650 employees.[1]

History

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BETA Technologies’ A250 eVTOL prototype aircraft

Beta Technologies was incorporated in 2017 in Burlington, Vermont by Kyle Clark, an experienced pilot, engineer and entrepreneur.[7][8] In order to become the company's first test pilot, he learned to fly helicopters, and earned FAA qualifications for a powered lift rating.[8]

The company identified its first customer as United Therapeutics, which under founder and CEO Martine Rothblatt was looking for efficient transportation methods for organs intended for human transplant.[9] United Therapeutics awarded Beta a $48 million contract.[10][11]

On May 23, 2018, the company made the first tethered flight of its original 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) Ava XC eight motor, eight propeller battery-operated proof of concept aircraft.[11]

The company came out of stealth in January 2019.[4] That year, the Ava XC became the world's heaviest eVTOL aircraft to fly.[4]

In February 2020, the company began participating in the United States Air Force Agility Prime program that seeks to advance electric air mobility. In May, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center announced that the company, along with Joby Aviation, would progress to the third phase of the program.[12][13] In June, the company unveiled its second aircraft prototype, ALIA-250.[14]

In March 2021, the ALIA-250 made a test flight from Plattsburgh, New York, across Lake Champlain to Burlington, Vermont.[15] In April, United Parcel Service (UPS) entered into a contract for ten ALIA-250 aircraft to be supplied in 2024, which included the option for UPS to acquire up to 150 more aircraft.[16] UPS announced it planned to have them travel directly to and from UPS facilities, rather than use airports.[17] In April, Blade Urban Air Mobility made a commitment to purchase up to 20 ALIA aircraft, becoming BETA's first passenger service company.[18] In May, the U.S. Air Force's Public Affairs office announced that Beta Technologies was granted the Air Force's first airworthiness certificate as a part of the AFWERX Agility Prime program, allowing the military to begin using the company's aircraft for test flights.[19] In July, the company completed a 205-mile crewed flight of its aircraft, its longest flight up to that point.[20]

The company announced on January 31, 2022, that it had won a U.S. Army contract to support flight testing of its ALIA electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The partnership is designed to help the Army test specific military cargo and logistics missions for eVTOLs, while allowing Beta to accelerate development for both military and civil applications. Initially, Army engineers and Beta's team would evaluate how ALIA might best be applied to specific missions by measuring its range, altitude, endurance, and payload limits.[21] In March 2022, the company hosted the United States Air Force and USAF test pilots flew the ALIA aircraft for the first time.[22]

In April 2022, aircraft lessor Lease Corporation International placed an order for fifty ALIA aircraft,[23] and in August that year, vertical lift aircraft operator Bristow Helicopters ordered five ALIA with options for an additional fifty.[24]

In May 2022, an ALIA aircraft completed a flight of 1,400+ miles in total, from New York State to Arkansas. This included stops along the way for recharging on the company's network.[25] The ALIA was included in X-Plane 12, desktop simulation software developed by Laminar Research, in October 2022.[26]

In December 2022, an ALIA completed another test flight after traveling 876 miles to UPS Worldport, where its founder was met by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.[27] The same month, the company completed a FAA-sponsored 50-ft battery drop test with the National Institute of Aviation Research as part of crashworthiness determination for the eVTOL industry.[28] Also in December, BETA was selected as one of four developers to be a part of Air New Zealand’s Mission Next Generation aircraft program.[29]

By the end of 2022, the company had begun to repurpose an Energizer Battery plant in St. Albans, Vermont for use as its primary battery production and validation facility.[30]

In March 2023, the company sought FAA certification for a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of its ALIA aircraft, dubbed the CX300, and had received orders for the new product from Bristow, Air New Zealand, and United Therapeutics.[31] The company said that FAA test pilots had flown the aircraft during a qualification evaluation earlier that year.[3] It also opened an office in Montreal.[32]

BETA Technologies’ final assembly and production facility in South Burlington, Vermont

In October 2023, the company opened a 188,500-square-foot production facility at Burlington International Airport. This is reportedly capable of producing up to 300 aircraft per year, with a planned Phase II buildout intended to double in size.[33]

BETA Technologies’ 320kw charge cube

In April 2024, the ALIA-250 aircraft completed a piloted transition, going from hover to wing-borne flight and then back to hover before landing.[34] Also that month, the company announced that it had received certification for its 320kw "charge cube" from the Underwriters Laboratory.[35]

In July 2024, the company completed several military exercises in collaboration with the Department of Defense, for the Air Force and Air National Guard, including cargo transport and a medivac simulation.[36]

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agreed a $20 million contract with the company to install its chargers at 22 sites across the East and Gulf coasts.[37] Also that month, BETA unveiled the prototype of its five-passenger ALIA aircraft.[38] and in October the company raised $318 million of new investment, led by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, which brought its total capital to over $1 billion.[39]

Technology

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eVTOL aircraft can take off and land without the use of a runway, allowing smaller loads to be delivered directly to recipients,[40] whereas eCTOL require conventional, runway-dependent operations. The company’s eVTOL and eCTOL (fixed wing) aircraft share many design features: both are powered by the same internally-developed electric pusher motor.[3]

The company uses electric motors as they are reportedly quieter and have a smaller carbon footprint with zero operational emissions compared to an equivalent gasoline engine. Electric propulsion aircraft also require less maintenance.[4] The company claims they are also more efficient than combustion engines and have constant torque across all speeds, which enables control without helicopter-like complexity.[41] The motors run from lithium-ion batteries.[28]

Products

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Beta Technologies develops electric aircraft and a network of charging stations to support them.

  • ALIA-250 – The A250 is an all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft that uses four top-mounted lift motors and one rear pusher motor to achieve vertical capabilities as well as wing-borne flight while in cruise.[42] It is designed to charge in under an hour, and carry five passengers or cargo for up to 250 nautical miles (nmi), which is the basis for the model number.[43] The design of the 50-ft wing was inspired by the arctic tern, a migratory bird known for its long flights. Its engines provide separate lift and thrust, as opposed to the tilt-rotor design of AVA, with a planned maximum range of 250 nm at a weight of 6,000 lbs and a cruise speed of 170 miles per hour.[32][43] In April 2024, this design achieved a switch from vertical to normal flight.[34]
  • CX300 – The CX300 is an all-electric conventional take-off and landing aircraft that is designed to charge in under an hour, and can be used in passenger, cargo, medical, or military configurations. The aircraft is powered by one rear-mounted pusher motor and its lift is created by the same 50-ft wing.[3]
  • Charging infrastructure – Beta developed a line of purpose-built chargers to support the deployment of electric aircraft. By September 2024, the company had opened 32 sites, with more than 50 other locations planned.[44] All Beta chargers can work with ground based electric vehicles in addition to electric aircraft.[5][45] The company also develops elevated landing pads that, when coupled with chargers, provide an off-airport landing option.[46][47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b D'Ambrosio, Dan (2024-04-02). "Electric airplane builder Beta Technologies is hiring and ushering in a new age of aviation". burlingtonfreepress. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  2. ^ Picard, Ken (2018-10-17). "Beta Technologies Races to Develop Electric Aviation". Seven Days. Vermont. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Freedman, Andrew (March 14, 2023). "Meet Beta Technologies' new electric plane". axios.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Beta Technologies, a Vermont Air Taxi Start-Up, Might Be About to Change the Aviation World". The Drive. January 11, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  5. ^ a b McCallum, Kevin (October 19, 2022). "Beta Technologies Plans a Web of Charging Stations Across the Eastern U.S. to Power Its Electric Planes". Seven Days. Vermont. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  6. ^ Reichmann, Kelsey (2021-09-20). "CAE and BETA Team Up on eVTOL Pilot Training". Avionics International. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ "Beta Technologies: Flying clean, maybe saving lives". Vermont Biz. February 15, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Behind the controls of an eVTOL aircraft: A test pilot's perspective". eVTOL.com. February 7, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "How United Therapeutics is helping eVTOL developers succeed". EVTOL. November 3, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Brouwer, Derek (May 12, 2021). "Flight Path: BTV's Beta Technologies is on the Cusp of a Breakthrough for Electric Aviation". Seven Days. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "US Air Force Primes the eVTOL Industry". eVTOL News. March 1, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Beta and Joby advance in U.S. Air Force Agility Prime campaign". evtol.com. May 30, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  13. ^ "Beta, Joby advance in Air Race to Certification". aflcmc.af.mil. May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Adams, Eric (June 15, 2021). "Beta unveils its new eVTOL: the avian-inspired Alia". evtol.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Adams, Eric (March 17, 2021). "Beta scores multiple milestones in quiet pursuit of electric flight". evtol.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Holland, Frank (April 8, 2021). "Beta hopes its electric vertical aircraft deal with UPS validates this new mode of transport". cnbc.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Head, Elan (April 7, 2021). "Beta Technologies announces deal with UPS for up to 150 eVTOL aircraft". evtol.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Blade orders up to 20 eVTOL aircraft from Beta Technologies". Vertical. April 13, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  19. ^ "Air Force awards first airworthiness approval for human flight in electric aircraft program". Air Force. May 5, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "Beta's fully electric Alia aircraft achieves 200+ mile test flight". eVTOL. July 7, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  21. ^ "U.S. Army Partners with eVTOL Developer Beta Technologies". FLYING Magazine. 2022-01-31. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Verger, Rob (March 14, 2022). "The Air Force just soared past an electric aircraft milestone". popsci.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  23. ^ Whyte, Alasdair (April 27, 2022). "LCI orders 50 Alia eVTOLs from Beta". Helicopterinvestor.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  24. ^ Weitering, Hanneke (August 9, 2022). "Bristow Orders Up to 55 of Beta's Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft". futureflight.aero. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Verger, Rob (June 2, 2022). "An electric aircraft just completed a journey of 1,403 miles". popsci.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  26. ^ Nevans, Jan (October 20, 2022). "Experiencing the future of flight through simulation software". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  27. ^ Cowan, Gerrard (December 19, 2022). "Beta achieves multi-mission flight from New York to Kentucky". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Weitering, Hanneke (December 27, 2022). "Beta Partners With eVTOL Safety Researchers for 50-foot Battery Drop Test". Future Flight. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  29. ^ Weitering, Hanneke (December 15, 2022). "Air New Zealand Names Four Partners for NextGen Aircraft Program". futureflight.aero. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  30. ^ Ellerbrock, Josh (December 22, 2022). "BETA gets local DRB approval; Expected buildout includes concrete testing chambers". samessenger.com. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  31. ^ Weitering, Hanneke (March 14, 2023). "Beta Technologies Plans To Certify Electric CTOL Airplane". futureflight.aero. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  32. ^ a b Brouwer, Derek (March 9, 2023). "Beta Technologies Opens Satellite Office in Montréal". Seven Days. Vermont. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  33. ^ "BETA Technologies opens electric aircraft production facility". vermontbiz. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  34. ^ a b Weitering, Hanneke (23 April 2024). "Beta's Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft Achieves Piloted Transition Flights". Aviation International News. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  35. ^ Weitering, Hanneke (19 April 2024). "Beta's 'Charge Cube' Earns UL Safety Certification". Aviation International News. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  36. ^ Le Marquand, Yves (15 July 2024). "BETA completes two new US Air Force deployments". revolution.aero. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  37. ^ Muller, Joann (4 September 2024). "Exclusive: U.S. looks to electric aircraft for emergency response". axios. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  38. ^ Bellan, Rebecca (30 September 2024). "Beta Technologies unveils first passenger carrying electric aircraft". techcrunch. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  39. ^ Gallucci, Maria (5 November 2024). "Electric aircraft startups are having a topsy-turvy week". canarymedia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  40. ^ "UPS Flight Forward Takes Innovation & Sustainability Onward & Upward". EVObsession. April 10, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  41. ^ Adams, Eric (January 10, 2019). "Snow Can't Stop the Edward Scissorhands of Flying Cars". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  42. ^ Jenkins, Lisa (September 8, 2022). "An electric aviation startup is building a charging network for all". protocol.com. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  43. ^ a b "Beta Technologies ALIA". eVTOL News. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  44. ^ Weitering, Hanneke (19 September 2024). "Beta Installs Electric Aircraft Chargers at Three Florida Airports". Aviation International News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  45. ^ Mirwani, Ben (March 27, 2023). "BETA Installs Electric Aircraft Charging Station at Augusta Regional Airport". Global Sky Media. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  46. ^ "Beta Underpins AAM With Nationwide Charging Network". Aviation Week. November 29, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  47. ^ Adams, Eric (March 20, 2020). "A rest stop where flying cars can recharge". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
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