Housing two Cessna Caravans — including the certification-ready aircraft for its supplemental type certificate program — the test center advances the development, testing, and certification of the Merlin Pilot

Merlin, the leading developer of assured, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, announced east coast flight operations at Quonset State Airport in North Kingston, Rhode Island. The flight test center houses Merlin’s certification-ready Cessna Caravan, the designated test aircraft for its supplemental type certificate (STC) program, and serves as the testbed for advancing the Merlin Pilot system, demonstrating the company’s ability to safely meet autonomy requirements for fixed-wing platforms.

With its global headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, the Quonset center brings flight test operations closer to home, which is a critical advantage as the company advances toward certifying the Merlin Pilot system and enables it to tap into the Northeast’s strong talent pool. Merlin also operates a test center in Kerikeri, New Zealand, supporting advanced technology development and certification efforts while running freight operations to serve rural communities.

"Merlin is steadily advancing toward our certification and commercialization goals, with flight testing playing a central role as we demonstrate our ability to integrate safety-critical technology across both military and commercial aircraft," said Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin. "By moving test operations to the east coast, we can carry out this vital work with greater proximity to our headquarters, and also bring top aviation engineering talent to the Northeast region. We’re proud to continue pioneering autonomous flight technology in a community that actively supports aviation operations."

Quonset State Airport (OQU) is situated on a peninsula that combines port, rail, road, and air transportation facilities, as well as an extensive industrial park. OQU is also home to both the Air and Army National Guard, who use the facility for training and aviation operations.

About Merlin

Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world’s leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation’s biggest challenges. To learn more, visit www.merlinlabs.com or follow us on X @merlinaero.

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