Dufour Aerospace Dispatches Unmanned Helpers
Dufour Aerospace sends unmanned helpers into the field
The startup develops and produces long-range drones for critical missions in Dübendorf.
In Hangar 9, right next to the aviation museum, stands an impressive white bird: the Aero-200 has a six-metre wingspan, four engines, prominent tilting wings and a fuselage capable of transporting 20 kilograms of payload over 200 kilometres.
Three of them stand side by side in the back of the hall, while mechanics prepare the aircraft for the next round of tests. "We are close to serial production," says CEO Sascha Hardegger, who joined Dufour Aerospace from Rega, during a tour of the facility.
Mr. Hardegger, you're building large transport drones. Will these soon be flying through Swiss skies?
Switzerland isn’t our primary market — at least not for now. Our drones are designed for long-range flights in regions with limited road networks and infrastructure. If you live on an island in Greece, in Scandinavia, or in Canada, the Aero-200 might soon be making your life easier.
What’s the key innovation?
There isn’t one single breakthrough. The Aero-200 takes off and lands like a helicopter, thanks to its tilt wings, but flies like a plane, meaning it needs no runway. What’s special is certainly the propulsion and the range: the drone is powered by electric motors, whose batteries are charged mid-flight by a two-stroke engine. This allows for distances of up to 200 kilometers with a 20-kilogram payload and over 500 kilometers with 5 kilograms. Part of Dufour Aerospace’s success comes from the fact that we develop almost everything in-house. And that we’ve found a clear niche.
Which niche is that?
The Aero-200 handles urgent courier tasks across long distances. With a cruising speed of up to 125 km/h, we can ensure the delivery of medications, blood products, and lab samples to remote areas. Switzerland is very well connected, of course — but consider that around 66 percent of people in Africa live more than two kilometers from a paved road, or that Sweden has roughly 1,000 inhabited islands. That points to a clear market opportunity.
How is the company structured?
We’re a private startup with around 70 employees, located in Dübendorf and in the Canton of Valais (VS). The drone’s structural design is developed by our team at the University of Zurich’s Space Hub. Prototype production, electronics, and software are handled here in Hangar 9. In Visp (VS), we carry out aerodynamic tests.
How important is it for your company to handle R&D in-house?
It’s essential. We even developed the flight computer for our products ourselves and are constantly working on improvements. Collaboration with universities is also very important. We have active projects with the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. We are of course also keen to attract the best and most motivated engineers. That’s why our location here at the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich is ideal for us.
