Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (January 10, 2024): The age of electric flying machines has arrived. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Gianluca Ciccopiedi, an ALIA electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft sits on the flight line after final test flights at Duke Field, Eglin Air Force Base. The ALIA test flights were supervised by the 413th Flight Test Squadron, the Air Force’s rotary wing squadron responsible for evaluating its new aircraft.

A product of BETA Technologies, the ALIA has both conventional and vertical takeoff configurations and is the Air Force’s first zero-emissions aircraft. The craft is expected to revolutionize tactical air travel with its near silent engines that eliminate the need for fossil fuels.

The Air Force envisions using the ALIA to increase the agility of combat logistics to transport personnel between short distances. The plane can accommodate up to five passengers and has an impressive payload capacity of nearly one thousand pounds. The ALIA has a 50-foot wingspan and has a top speed of up to 138 miles per hour.

Besides its fuel efficiency, the ALIA adds additional stealth as it is 90 percent quieter than a traditional helicopter.