Vista invests in Dufour Aerospace

Dufour Aerospace, based in Visp in the canton of Valais with a branch office in Zurich, gained the Dubai-based Vista Global Holding as the lead investor for its recently completed Series B financing round. In addition to the world's leading group for private business flights, both existing and two new investors were also involved in the financing round, further details of which can be found in a press release issued by Dufour.

The investment from Vista, allied with the group’s extensive industry experience, will provide “valuable support” in expanding the significant potential of Dufour's innovative tilt-wing technologies and aerospace products. This technology will be used in the unmanned Aero2 aircraft and the flagship manned Aero3 aircraft developed by Dufour Aerospace.

Thomas Pfammatter, CEO of Dufour, describes the investment from Vista as an important milestone: “They recognize the importance of developing successful products and solutions to support the future of hybrid-electric tilt-wing aircraft”. According to the press release, Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of Vista, will look to supplement the company’s global service network in future with the sustainable aviation solutions developed by Dufour.

The Aero3 aircraft, which is still under development, takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter, but flies as quickly and economically as an airplane. The propellers are operated by way of an electric drive system. Hybrid elements facilitate a sufficiently large range with a conventional turbine or fuel cells. The Dufour aircraft are to be used in patient and passenger transport, in logistics and for public safety issues. mm