Rotor Technologies presented its advancements in agricultural aviation last week with the flight of the Sprayhawk, the world’s largest and most advanced agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a drone), during an exclusive event at Perot Field Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas.
The event, held in partnership with Hillwood and the Helicopter Institute on November 20, brought together over 200 leaders in the aviation industry, who witnessed the historic flight and celebrated significant announcements from the company.
The live demonstration of the Sprayhawk kicked off the event. Piloted from a ground control station by Rotor’s chief pilot, Joao Magioni, the UAV performed a complete startup procedure, hovered in front of the audience, executed turning maneuvers, demonstrated its integrated spray system, and landed after approximately five minutes in the air.
Following the flight, Rotor CEO Hector Xu provided an overview of the company’s progress over the past year, highlighting the announcement of the Sprayhawk in August 2024, the growing industry interest in the platform, and the planned start of deliveries in 2025. Xu also confirmed the suggested pricing for 2025 models and estimated delivery dates, noting that early buyers will have access to special pricing until December 15, 2024.
The R550 Airtruck, which includes the ground control station (GCS) and a transport trailer, is listed at $1.35 million for 2025, with an introductory price of $850,000 available until December 15, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Sprayhawk R550 «ready to spray», equipped with a spray tank, boom, and navigation system, is priced at $1.5 million, with a promotional price of $990,000.
Retrofit packages also offer attractive options: the Airtruck Retrofit, to convert an existing R44, costs $550,000, while the fully equipped Sprayhawk Retrofit is priced at $700,000, both featuring significant discounts during the introductory period, reducing the prices to $375,000 and $525,000, respectively.
The company also unveiled a new retrofit package for all Robinson R44 models, extending autonomous flight capabilities to an existing fleet of over 6,000 units currently in service. Until now, only new Sprayhawks were available for pre-order, with the Robinson R44 Raven II serving as the standard platform.
Attendees had the opportunity to closely explore the Sprayhawk and its ground control station, as well as to network with Rotor’s new Vice President of Commercialization, Andy Mearns, and the flight team.
The Sprayhawk prototype displayed is the first of two units undergoing testing before entering joint operations with a select group of operators in the United States as part of Rotor’s Joint Development Program. According to the company, the introduction of the retrofit marks a significant step toward democratizing autonomous flight, reports our partner outlet, AEROIN.
Xu also emphasized the strategic partnership with AG-NAV to integrate precision agricultural navigation into the Sprayhawk. «The launch of the Sprayhawk marks a pivotal moment for both Rotor and the agricultural sector. With this technology, we are setting a new standard for agricultural UAVs, combining high payload capacity with advanced autonomy to enhance safety, precision agriculture, and sustainability,» said Xu.
Helicopter Institute President Randy Rowles highlighted the relevance of this advancement in the regulatory context and its impact on safer and more efficient aerial applications. «It was an honor to participate in the Sprayhawk launch event at Alliance Airport,» Rowles said. «We strongly believe in the importance of this technological advancement in agricultural spraying. Congratulations to Hector and the entire Rotor team for an exceptional demonstration,» he added.
Meanwhile, Christopher Ash, Senior Vice President of Aviation Business Development at Hillwood, stated, «Hosting this event within the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone reflects our effort to foster innovation and support leading companies in next-generation mobility solutions.»
Technical specifications of the R550 Sprayhawk
The R550 Sprayhawk is designed for advanced agricultural operations, offering a maximum payload capacity of 110 gallons (416 liters), a maximum takeoff weight of 2,500 pounds (1,134 kg), and a flight endurance of 50 minutes.
Its operational range is 8 km (5 miles), limited to operations within visual line of sight (VLOS). It can operate up to 1,500 feet (500 m) AGL or 14,000 feet (4,300 m) MSL, depending on conditions.
It is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system and an advanced sensor suite including front, side, and downward-facing cameras, downward LIDAR, and a radar altimeter, as well as redundant communication options with LOS and LTE radios.
It offers autopilot modes such as augmented stability, waypoint tracking, and terrain following, along with autonomous functions like automated spray patterns and emergency return-to-home.
Operation requires a minimum of three personnel: a remote pilot, a visual observer, and a spray loading technician. It complies with 44807 exemption regulations for commercial agricultural operations in the United States and does not require an export license in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Event video
