- Charl Jooste
AAC Releases New MultiRotor Drone

Image: Advance Aircraft Company
We are fortunate to have many highly skilled and talented people working on drone technology. They are developing the industry in leaps and bounds. When an accomplished aeronautical engineer from NASA gets involved, you know you can expect something exciting. That is exactly what this company has achieved.
Hampton, Virginia based company, Advance Aircraft Company (AAC) recently launched their first commercial unmanned aircraft. It is a gasoline-electric hybrid that is sure to impress. The team behind AAC is impressive. These people have extensive experience and know what they are doing. This bodes well for the future of the company and drone design.
The hybrid multirotor is designed for endurance, something lacking in many drones. Staying power is critical in commercial or humanitarian drone missions. AAC believes that their drones can operate for up to eight times more flying time than the average multirotor drone. That is impressive, to say the least.
Bill Fredericks is the CEO and company founder. He was responsible for some innovative work at NASA and has taken these skills to AAC. He is joined by COO Aaron Frank, VP Business Development Benjamin Fenigsohn, and many others that know and understand the industry.
Key features
The new HAMR (Hybrid Advanced Multirotor) was unveiled on August 4, 2021. The standout feature is the propulsion system which is powered by gas-electric technology. This is a relatively new concept in drones but sure to be a game-changer.
Bill Fredericks, AAC CEO, said “Our customers generate revenue by the acre, and they pay their pilots by the hour, so productivity is important to them,”
Not only is the power system impressive but the airframe design is aerodynamic and effective. It might not be the most conventional looking drone, but it is built for performance and ability. In these areas, it impresses.
Image: Advance Aircraft Company
Productivity
One of the benefits of a commercial drone with this amount of fly time is that it multiplies your productivity. You do not need to keep recharging or swapping batteries as this craft can operate for many hours.
For commercial operations, this is a major boost as it allows you to get more work done in less time and with fewer hassles. For commercial, military, or humanitarian work it enables the operators to get more done with minimal downtime.
More about the HAMR Drone
The 35cc single-piston engine features electronic fuel-injection. To enhance performance, it is all computer-controlled and the results are impressive. The DC electric motor has a battery backup. They are brushless which means that less power is consumed.
The power behind the unit is a built-in 2,000-W generator. This delivers power to the six motors. You can expect a phenomenal fly time of as much as 3.5 hours. This is significantly more than one can expect from traditional UAVs or drones.
If you are in the commercial drone business, this additional productivity will pay for itself quickly.
Fredericks explains his beginning this business. “I started flying gliders at 13 years old,” he said. “I own my own plane, a Piper Lance.”
His qualifications and experience clearly put him in a good position to grow and develop this aspect of the drone industry.
He explains: “I’m the only person who can say they’re both a Marine and a legit NASA rocket scientist,”.

Image: Advance Aircraft Company
Final thoughts
This is a remarkable breakthrough in the drone industry and the HAMR is sure to inspire other developers. It is an amazing solution for multiple applications. AAC has developed an impressive product and we believe they will continue to grow and innovate.
SOURCE: Dronelife