Historic battery-powered helicopter flight at Los Alamitos Army Airfield

Tier 1 Engineering’s battery-powered manned helicopter program achieved a record five minute cruise flight to 400 feet altitude with a peak speed of 80 knots on Wednesday, September 21st, 2016. The helicopter was a modified Robinson R44 test piloted by Captain Ric Webb of OC Helicopters. Tier 1 Engineering accomplished the project under contract from Lung Biotechnology PBC to produce an Electrically-Powered Semi-Autonomous Rotorcraft for Organ Delivery (EPSAROD). Documentation of the flight is available at