Craneaero Crane P.5 (prototype)

(Photo credit: CraneAERO)

Crane P.5 (prototype)
CraneAERO
Lacock, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
www.craneaero.co.uk

Founded August 2024 at Crane University, CraneAERO is based in Lacock, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. The company is in the business of designing and manufacturing emergency response passenger eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) multicopter aircraft. The company's first production aircraft is called the CRANE (Cranfield Rapid Aerial Network for Emergency). CraneAERO is the only United Kingdom team to win the Stage 1 and Stage 2 GoAERO Prize competition.

The company's aim is to provide aircraft for first responders traveling to hazardous or difficult to reach areas for search and rescue (SAR) missions, disaster relief and medical evacuation. The aircraft has been made to carry emergency response crew, a patient, emergency supplies and equipment. In addition, the company foresees its aircraft for industrial logistics and technology testing. 

Crane P.5 subscale passenger eVTOL multicopter aircraft (prototype)
The Crane P.5 (P.5 = Prototype 1/2 scale) is an uncrewed eVTOL multicopter aircraft. The company has successfully flown this prototype. In addition, the company as successfully flown smaller prototypes (possibly a 1/4 scale prototype) for the GoAERO Prize contest.

The subscale prototype uses autonomous advanced machine-learning flight control for a safe, reliable, high-performance flight and can adapt in real time to changing conditions, navigating complex environments safely. The multicopter has eight stacked propellers, eight electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The subscale multicopter has fixed skid landing gear. 

Full-Scale Prototype Information
Concerning the full scale production model multicopter, it will hold at least one paramedic, one patient victim and the appropriate emergency medical equipment and supplies. The full scale production model will have two gull-wing doors and a rear hatch for a patient and stretcher.

Next Steps
The company is in the process of manufacturing their full-size prototype which will expand payload capacity to ~120 kg (~265 lb), and are seeking funding and sponsorship partners to bring this next stage to life. 

About the GoAERO Prize Competition
The GoAERO Prize, sponsored by Boeing, is a three year competition (2024-2027) offering over $2 million USD in prizes that challenges engineers worldwide to create portable, versatile and autonomy-enabled Emergency Response Aircraft that address not only everyday medical emergencies but also to be used in natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and climate crises worldwide. Each team designs and builds autonomous Emergency Response aircraft capable of delivering a first responder, medical equipment and supplies and ultimately evacuating victims in need to a rescue ambulance or hospital.

More than 150 teams from around the globe are competing for the GoAero prizes. The GoFly and GoAERO prizes were developed by Boeing and other organizations to help the nascent advanced air mobility (AAM) industry move forward.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: 1/2 subscale passenger emergency rescue eVTOL multicopter aircraft (prototype) 
• Piloting: Autonomous flight with machine learning
• Capacity: Simulated payload weight
• Cruise speed: ~70 km/h (44 mph)
• Maximum payload weight: ~120 kg (~265 lb)
• Propellers: 8 stacked propellers
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs.
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Helicopter-type front window
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Resources:

• CraneAERO website
• CraneAERO Instagram
• CraneAERO YouTube
• CraneAERO LinkedIn
• Article: GoAERO Launches $2M+ VTOL Challenge, Electric VTOL News, Feb. 12, 2024
• Article: Meet the Teams: CraneAERO of Cranfield University, UK, GoAero, Apr. 3, 2025
• Article: University designs new emergency aircraft, BBC, May 17, 2025
• Video: Uncut Video GoAERO Stage 2 Submission, CraneAERO, Sept. 29, 2025
• Article: Full size version of emergency aircraft to be made, BBC, Dec. 14, 2025