Elroy Air, a startup based in South San Francisco, California, has announced significant milestones, new funding, and a leadership change. The company, known for its autonomous hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft called the Chaparral C1, has appointed Andrew Clare as its new CEO. Clare, a former executive at an autonomous vehicle company, brings extensive experience to the role, including his work on Tesla’s Model X program and a doctorate in aeronautics from MIT.
David Merrill, the co-founder and former CEO since the company’s inception in 2016, will transition to the role of executive chairman. This change will allow Merrill to focus on strategic duties, such as business development partnerships and legislative engagements, particularly with the U.S. Department of Defense. The Chaparral C1 is designed for middle-mile cargo delivery, catering to defense, humanitarian, and commercial clients.
It can autonomously pick up a pod loaded with 300 pounds of cargo, transport it up to 300 miles, and drop it off to pick up another pre-loaded pod. Clare expressed his belief in the potential of Elroy’s Chaparral, highlighting the company’s unique focus on middle-mile cargo. Elroy Air conducted significant flights last summer at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground as part of the Marine Corps MARV-EL program.
Leadership transition and new CEO appointment
These tests demonstrated the Chaparral’s capability to operate in demanding conditions and complete a 300-pound cargo lift. The company has since been testing subscale aircraft to mature software and expand capabilities, with plans to incorporate these into full-scale systems.
In addition to its defense contracts, Elroy Air has garnered interest from civilian companies. The company recently completed a major funding round, supported by Shield Capital, Snowpoint Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Milano Investment Partners, DiamondStream Partners, and Levitate Capital. The funding round, led by Marlinspike, will extend the company’s runway by about a year, according to Merrill.
As Clare takes on his new role as CEO, his objectives include expanding the technical capabilities of the full-scale aircraft, including autonomous flights. He anticipates demonstrating the full mission envelope capabilities of the Chaparral, which includes vertical takeoff, forward flights, cruising, and vertical landing. Mislav Tolusic, managing partner at Marlinspike, expressed enthusiasm about Clare’s leadership and the potential of the Chaparral UAS as a significant asset for U.S. and allied forces.
The company’s progress and recent developments position it as a leader in the autonomous aircraft market, with the potential to revolutionize cargo delivery and logistics in both military and civilian sectors.
