Pyka

Pyka builds heavy-lift autonomous electric aircraft for agriculture, cargo and defence. The company is based in Alameda, California, and says it is America's leading maker of dual-use heavy-lift autonomous aircraft. Its aircraft fly every day in the United States, Honduras, Costa Rica, Indonesia and Brazil.

Aircraft

Pelican 2

An autonomous electric spray aircraft for agriculture. Pyka calls it the world's most efficient spray aircraft.

• 300 litre payload
• 20 metre swath
• About US$1 per hectare to operate
• Ready to fly

DropShip

A cargo aircraft for logistics, defence and humanitarian missions.

• 3,500 mile range
• 550 lb payload
• 40+ hours endurance
• Precision airdrop

By the numbers

• 289,815 hectares sprayed
• 18,279 autonomous flights
• 532,000 km flown
• 5 countries active
• 110,000 sq ft factory in Alameda, California, building 3 aircraft per month

Technology

Pyka builds its own autonomy stack: PYKA.OS, avionics, PYKA.PERCEPTION and propulsion. Its aircraft are made in the USA.

History

• February 2017: started by Michael Norcia in his parents' garage
• June 2017: joined Y Combinator; the five-person team built and flew the 400 lb "Big Bird" demonstrator
• March 2018: raised US$3 million and built the Egret, a 200 lb payload electric crop duster
• May 2019: Egret certified for commercial operation
• April 2026: DropShip first flight
• June 2026: autonomous airdrop and casualty evacuation missions at a US Army Reserve exercise

Leadership

Michael Norcia (Co-Founder and CEO), Chuma Ogunwole (Co-Founder and COO), Volker Fabian (Chief Commercial Officer), Kyle Moore and Nathan White (Co-Founders).

Customers

Customers include SLC Agrícola, Dole and other growers in Brazil, Central America and the United States.

Contact

Email: pyka@flypyka.com, sales: sales@flypyka.com
Details from flypyka.com, October 2026.