Wingcopter

Wingcopter is a German startup that offers drone-based services for applications including medical deliveries, infrastructure inspection, research purposes, and wildlife conservation. Its latest delivery drone model, called “Wingcopter 198,” can carry a maximum payload of 10.4 lbs, cruising at speeds of up to 56 mph, covering a range of 58 miles. The drones come with sensors including dual airspeed sensors, dual heading, and positioning systems to facilitate control of the system. It is also equipped with patented tilt-rotor technology, which enables the drones to withstand wind and fly in harsh conditions. The drones are designed to deliver up to three separate packages to multiple locations in one flight and to support Level 4 autonomous flying (fully autonomous but limited to specific locations and/or conditions; these features are in development as of March 2024). The drone received approval for airworthiness criteria from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in May 2022, as a part of its process of obtaining Type Certification (approval of the aircraft design and components). It also applied for Type Certification in Japan in April 2024.

The company operates as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for drones in addition to offering drone delivery-as-a-service. The company has conducted drone-based deliveries in countries including Germany, Ireland, Scotland, the US, Japan, Kenya, Vanuatu, Malawi, and Latin America (including Peru).

Key customers and partnerships

The company has conducted delivery trials in Germany in partnership with several parties including Merck and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (UAS) for inter-office deliveries (February 2020; a pilot with Frankfurt UAS for consumer goods deliveries in rural areas in September 2022); Greifswald University Hospital and German air ambulance service DRF Luftrettung for blood sample deliveries (September 2021); and a pilot project called LieferMichel to deliver everyday goods to residents in remote areas of Michelstadt, Hesse, since October 2023.

Wingcopter offers its technology to third-party drone and aviation companies like UPS Flight Forward (March 2020), Air Methods and its subsidiary Spright (August 2021), Flying Labs (February 2021), and Zeitfracht Group and its subsidiary German Airways (March 2022). The company’s authorized partners for product distribution include SYNERJET for distribution in Latin America (October 2021), ITOCHU for distribution in Japan (March 2022), and Continental Drones for distribution in Africa (May 2022).

The company also has a product partnership with ZAL to develop hydrogen-powered drones (March 2023).

Funding and financials

In May 2023, Wingcopter received EUR 40 million (approximately USD 44 million) in quasi-equity financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the investment arm of the European Union. The company intended to utilize the funds to further develop its hardware and launch a new business related to drone-based logistics and delivery services. The company planned to expand operations to Asia, Latin America, and Africa.