The most amazing thing about the new VT-NAUT fixed-wing drone manufactured by Aeromao is its uncanny resemblance to an eagle in flight.  From a distance, it’s not easy to distinguish the two, which could one day make the craft enormously useful to Pentagon planners as a stealth reconnaissance plane, operating deep behind enemy lines.  For now, its designers are hoping their hybrid drone will prove useful in a variety of commercial missions, from aerial surveillance to crop dusting.  And quite possibly, inspections of offshore oil rigs and even marine wildlife monitoring.

It’s not just the sleek aerodynamics of the VT-NAUT that mark it as distinctive – it’s also the fact that it can land on and take off from water – lakes, rivers and even oceans, if need be.  The VT-NAUT is considered a VTOSL craft– standing for “vertical takeoff and short landing” – as it combines the best features of fixed-wing aircraft performance with vertical takeoff capabilities, but with landings that are a controlled belly flop rather than a slow vertical descent.

The VT-NAUT’s aerodynamic design also eliminates the tilt mechanisms and additional motors required in a full-blown eVTOL aircraft, which lowers its weight (to just 8 lbs.) and enhances its efficiency and reliability.  In addition, the plane’s fuselage – composed of EPP materials – is specially designed to withstand the impact of its short landings, reducing the chances of cracks or breakage.

The VT-NAUT also features a long-range telemetry link of 20 miles and can fly non-stop for up to 90 minutes, allowing for continuous service operation and potentially out-performing many comparable commercial drone models.

The VT-NAUT is actually Aeromao’s second amphibious landing drone.  Its Aeromapper 300 Talon drone, introduced in 2019, is a hand-launched aircraft that uses a remotely-triggered parachute to land safely.  The amphibious version can be launched from shore or from a ship deck and floats on the water after landing until retrieved by its operator.

The Aeromapper 300 was specially designed for precision aerial surveying.  It’s equipped with more than 25 different sensors, offering a wide range of applications for the professional geomatics user.  The drone’s autopilot triggers the sensors based on distance with respect to the overlaps and flight altitude.

Based in Ontario, Canada, Aeromao was founded in 2013 but its roots date to 2005 when the principals were employed in Latin America providing aerial photography and photomapping services with remotely-piloted vehicles at a time when UAV services were practically unheard of.  In 2016, Alta Vista Ventures acquired a 100% share of Aeromao, which propelled its rapid growth.  Currently, the company boasts some 300 clients in over 50 countries.