Elroy Air
Intelligence Profile: Certification
Company Overview
Elroy Air is a California-based developer of autonomous hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (hVTOL) aircraft for middle-mile cargo logistics, humanitarian aid, and military resupply.
The Chaparral is a fully autonomous uncrewed hVTOL: Payload 300 lbs (136 kg), mission range 300 miles (483 km), cruise speed 143 mph (125 kts). Hybrid-electric propulsion (turbogenerator + batteries) with distributed electric rotors (8 vertical lift + 4 forward cruise). Modular quick-swap cargo pods enable rapid point-to-point operations without runways or charging infrastructure.
Leadership Team
Andrew Clare
Chief Executive Officer
Former Tesla/Nuro executive leading scaling and commercialization since Jan 2025
Dave Merrill
Founder & Executive Chairman
Co-founder and visionary who built the Chaparral platform
Buddy Michini
Chief Technology Officer
Leads technical development and autonomy systems
Clint Cope
Co-Founder & Advisor
Co-founder focused on product/engineering strategy
Alvin Oswandy
Head of Finance
Manages financial strategy and operations
Aircraft Portfolio
Chaparral
Media Gallery
Featured Videos
First A-to-B Cargo Delivery with Chaparral
Historic first autonomous point-to-point cargo delivery (Dec 2025)
Chaparral Transition to 70 mph Wingborne Flight
Landmark autonomous transition from VTOL to efficient cruise flight
Chaparral C1 Overview & First Flight Highlights
Brand overview and early full-scale flight footage
Chaparral at Yuma Proving Ground
Military demonstration flights for US Marine Corps
Key Milestones
Company Founded
Founded by Dave Merrill and Clint Cope in San Francisco
Chaparral C1 First Flight
World’s first turbogenerator-hybrid-electric VTOL flight
First Transition Flights
Successful autonomous VTOL-to-wingborne transition at 70+ mph
Kratos Manufacturing Deal
Exclusive U.S. manufacturing partnership announced
First A-to-B Cargo Delivery
Historic first autonomous point-to-point cargo delivery (213 lbs payload)
$200M Abu Dhabi JV
Agreement with Barq Group for manufacturing and services in UAE