Pipistrel, an American-owned Slovenian aviation company best known for its ultralight aircraft, has performed the first flight of its Nuuva V300, a long-range hybrid-electric cargo drone.

Capable of performing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), the Nuuva V300 is designed to carry a 272-kilogram load over a range of up to 555 kilometres.

The company said in a press release on 31 January that the flight marked a milestone in the development of advanced, sustainable and multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicles.

The craft has nose-loading capability and offers a payload capacity of over three cubic metres. It can be configured to take up to three cargo pallets or bulk cargo as needed.

"Nuuva V300's unique capabilities and robust design will not only transform logistics but also play a crucial role in commercial and defence missions," said Kriya Shortt, president and CEO or Pipistrel's parent company Textron eAviation.

The Nuuva V300 uses a battery-electric system to power eight Pipistrel E-811 electric motors for VTOL operations, while a separate internal combustion engine is used for cruise flight.

"The Nuuva's first flight demonstrates Pipistrel's strength in electric propulsion and dedication to advancing the aviation industry," added Pipistrel president and managing director Gabrel Massey.

Pipistrel has worked on electric propulsion for years and its E-811 electric motors, which power its Velis Electro, are already type certified by the EU Aviation Safety Agency.