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Dufour Aerospace: The Swiss Hybrid eVTOL Blending Helicopter Agility with Airplane Range

SKYFORCE

From the innovation hub of Visp, Switzerland, Dufour Aerospace is crafting a new breed of aircraft that merge the best of two worlds—helicopter versatility and airplane efficiency. Their flagship platform, aero3, is a tilt-wing, hybrid-electric eVTOL designed for real-world missions in medical transport, search and rescue, and regional mobility.

With Swiss precision, aerospace expertise, and a clear eye on utility, Dufour is building not just a flying machine—but a serious aircraft for serious missions.

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The Founders: Jasmine Kent and Thomas Pfammatter

Dufour Aerospace was co-founded by Jasmine Kent, a software engineer and systems architect with experience in autonomous systems, and Thomas Pfammatter, a seasoned helicopter pilot and rescue operations expert. Together, they fused aerospace engineering with real-life mission needs, creating aircraft designed for mountain rescue, emergency response, and high-performance transport.

This blend of high-tech vision and operational experience drives every aspect of the company’s aircraft development.

 

The Aircraft: Aero3 – A Hybrid Tilt-Wing with Purpose

The centerpiece of Dufour’s innovation is the aero3, a tilt-wing aircraft designed for vertical takeoff and landing, followed by efficient horizontal cruise flight.

aero3 Key Specifications:

  • Seating: 8 people (pilot + 7 passengers)
  • Range: Up to 1,020 km (~634 miles)
  • Cruise Speed: ~350 km/h (~217 mph)
  • Propulsion: Hybrid-electric with internal combustion generator + battery storage
  • Takeoff/landing: VTOL via six tilting propellers
  • Use Cases: Emergency medical services (EMS), VIP transport, law enforcement, search & rescue, rural logistics

The aircraft is designed to land on hospital rooftops, rural landing pads, or remote locations—with the speed and range of a small plane and the flexibility of a helicopter.

 

Mission: Serve Critical, Real-World Aviation Needs

Dufour isn’t chasing mass urban air taxi fantasies. Their mission is grounded in real-world applications where performance, reliability, and range matter most:

  • Medical Evacuations: Fast, direct flights from incident scenes to hospitals
  • Search & Rescue: Access hard-to-reach locations quickly and safely
  • Law Enforcement & Surveillance: Quiet, efficient patrol over large areas
  • Intercity Passenger Flights: Bridge rural towns and urban centers with rapid point-to-point mobility
  • Cargo & Special Missions: Transport goods to remote regions without ground infrastructure

In all cases, the aircraft offers quiet, low-emission operation with long endurance—perfect for high-value missions that helicopters currently serve.

 

Development Status & Strategic Partnerships

Dufour has made steady progress toward commercialization:

  • Completed successful full-scale subscale demonstrator flights with their earlier model, aero2
  • Secured agreements with air ambulance operators in Europe for future adoption of the aero3
  • Developed detailed simulation and certification roadmaps in line with EASA standards
  • Building strong connections with emergency response networks and regional aviation partners
  • Targeting first deliveries of aero3 by the late 2020s, with aero2 (a smaller autonomous cargo platform) also under development

 

Why Ceekers Should Watch Dufour Aerospace

For Ceekers—those invested in immersive travel, logistics, climate-conscious aviation, and practical innovation—Dufour Aerospace stands out for several reasons:

  • Real Utility, Not Sci-Fi: Dufour is solving actual mobility problems in healthcare, rescue, and regional transport
  • Swiss Precision: Expect reliability, performance, and technical excellence
  • Hybrid-Electric Efficiency: Offers low emissions while sidestepping current battery limitations
  • Modular Mission Design: Adaptable for multiple industries and roles—from medical response to digital creator logistics
  • High-Speed Connectivity: Perfect for linking smart cities with remote creative hubs, universities, and production studios

 

Looking Ahead

While others build for spectacle, Dufour Aerospace is building for service—serving real people in urgent need of speed, access, and clean flight. With aircraft like aero3, the company is poised to replace helicopters in many roles, delivering a quieter, safer, and more sustainable alternative.

As hybrid-electric systems evolve and infrastructure adapts, Dufour may well lead the way in bridging the gap between regional air mobility and vertical access

 

PhotoCredit: Dufour Aerospace (Switzerland)