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Autonomous Aviation Solutions

Skyways designs, builds and operates long-range hybrid-VTOL aircraft, flown on real missions with customers since 2017. We are building a global network of autonomous airborne infrastructure to deliver anywhere.

Our Mission

Skyways aircraft staged at the Arkona shore base port

Built To Deliver. Built For The Mission.

Define the outcome. Skyways configures the aircraft, payload, route, and operating plan around your mission, ready to deliver across theaters and domains. Anything, anywhere.

Operating Vision

Just Tell Us What & Where.

With Flight-as-a-Service, customers define what moves, where and when. Skyways designs, builds and flies the aircraft and provides the hubs, SkyNav and the flight team. No fleet to buy. No crew to train.

Cargo that matters rarely comes in one shape: temperature-sensitive medical one week, aircraft parts the next. The V3 Platform's bay carries them all: 7.0 cu ft, mission-configurable, with a defined interface for third-party sensor and mission-system integration. The proof is already flying: cold-chain containers, aircraft parts and medical supplies have moved through the cargo bay.

Most cargo doesn't start or end at an airport. A Skyways Hub brings launch and landing to the route: under an acre to start, no runway required, configured to the site and the operating program. Skyways aircraft have already launched and recovered from ship decks, carrier decks, harbor pads and open fields, and the planned network spans 17 countries and territories with 50+ hubs worldwide by 2030.

A network is only as strong as the aircraft behind it. Flight-as-a-Service routes fly on the V3, a hybrid VTOL that launches vertically and cruises on the wing. No runway at either end. One airframe flies cargo, sensor and relay missions, so the fleet stays small and the aircraft stay flying; each one added to the network adds route capacity and availability.

Autonomous cargo only works when one system owns the mission from liftoff to landing. SkyNav owns it: route planning, flight execution and live supervision of aircraft, hubs and operators in a single operating view. The proof flew in July 2021, when a Navy UX-24 test team operated V2 ship-to-ship with no Skyways employees aboard either vessel. The way SkyNav commands the fleet unlocks 1:N operations that will be a force multiplier for any mission: one operator, many aircraft.

Overhead view of a Skyways aircraft on the grass pad of a coastal site beside a seawall

Why This Team

Flying Autonomously Since 2017.

Founded in Austin, Texas, in 2017, we are flying on three continents and running routine operations with customers today. We’ve delivered critical supplies, supported defense operations, and connected logistics across harsh environments.

With every mission we fly, we deepen our data, strengthen our systems, and compound an operating advantage for our customers. On routes Skyways flies today, deliveries that took hours by boat or road land in minutes, with fewer people riding in the delivery path.

Skyways V3 aircraft hovering low during a flight test in Texas

Milestones

  1. A Skyways aircraft in a grass field, the sun low over the tree line

    2017

    Founded In Austin

    Skyways was founded in Austin by Charles Acknin and Chris Craighill, and won a U.S. military contract in its first year.

  2. Open blue water seen from a vessel underway

    March 2019 · U.S. Navy · ANTX

    Selected At ANTX 2019

    The U.S. Navy selected Skyways at ANTX 2019 from a field of more than 65 platforms, opening the Navy relationship and pulling the aircraft line toward long-range hybrid propulsion. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  3. A Skyways aircraft approaching USS Gerald R. Ford's flight deck, the ship's island at left, in port at Naval Station Norfolk, February 2021. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist RJ Stratchko.

    February 2021 · U.S. Navy · Carrier

    USS Gerald R. Ford Deck Trials

    In February 2021 the Navy's UX-24 squadron flew a Skyways V2 from shore to USS Gerald R. Ford, delivering cargo to the flight deck by air drop and by deck landing. Naval Aviation News called it the Navy's first practical demonstration of the potential for unmanned ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore cargo transport. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  4. Onboard camera view from a Skyways aircraft approaching a vessel's flight deck at sea

    July 2021 · U.S. Navy · Ship To Ship

    Navy Test Team Flies Ship To Ship

    A Navy UX-24 test team flew a Skyways aircraft from USNS Joshua Humphreys to USS Bainbridge, with no Skyways personnel aboard either vessel. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  5. A Skyways V2 aircraft above the stern of a vessel underway, the cargo canister on the deck's landing pad

    November 2022 · U.S. Navy · ANTX 2022

    Cargo Delivered To A Moving Ship

    Resupply at sea only counts against a ship that is moving. At the Navy's Blue Water demonstration in November 2022, Skyways V2 flew from Webster Field to a vessel underway offshore, landed cargo on its deck, air-dropped the cargo canister onto the landing pad, and logged more than 200 nautical miles in a single endurance flight. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  6. Three Skyways aircraft on wheeled racks aboard a ship

    June 2023 · U.S. Navy · FBP 23-1

    Into Fleet Battle Problem 23-1

    A Skyways aircraft became the first unmanned logistics aircraft in a Navy Fleet Battle Problem, operating inside a live fleet exercise. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  7. Skyways V3 aircraft hovering low during flight testing

    2024

    V3 B1 First Flight

    The full-scale V3 B1 made its first flight in early 2024. It incorporates lessons from V3 B0 and prepares the platform for customer demonstrations.

  8. A Skyways aircraft beside a red smoke marker on a field landing zone

    March 2024 · DIU · III MEF

    Blood Resupply, 313 Miles

    Under a Defense Innovation Unit contract modification, Skyways flew ten units of porcine whole blood 313 miles in one six-hour flight in March 2024, a simulated endurance mission flown stateside for a III Marine Expeditionary Force requirement. The blood stayed between 1 and 6 degrees Celsius throughout. Defense programs

    Defense Innovation Unit logo
  9. Skyways aircraft operating from a ship deck at sea

    June 2024 · U.S. Navy · RIMPAC

    RIMPAC 2024 At Sea

    Skyways deployed three V2 aircraft aboard USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) for Trident Warrior at RIMPAC 2024, flying seven sorties from its deck. RIMPAC context

    U.S. Navy logo
  10. A Skyways aircraft descending over a ship's stern rail toward the deck under a cloudy sky

    2024 · U.S. Navy · Ship Intercept

    Beaconless Ship Acquisition

    In a 2024 demonstration for the U.S. Navy, a Skyways V2 acquired the vessel visually and flew a triangular intercept pattern, with no GPS beacon on the target ship guiding it. Hovering over the ship, it handed the landing to Skyways precision-landing software. The aircraft found the ship on its own. Defense programs

    U.S. Navy logo
  11. A Skyways aircraft in flight low over green scrubland

    2025

    First International Aircraft Deliveries

    Skyways delivered aircraft to its first international customers: Skyports Drone Services and ANA Holdings.

    Skyports logoANA logo
  12. Skyways V3 aircraft hovering low during flight testing

    May 2025 · U.S. Air Force · STRATFI

    $37 Million STRATFI Award

    Skyways received a $37 million AFWERX STRATFI award to scale autonomous cargo aircraft and operations with the U.S. Air Force. It is the largest STRATFI ever awarded in cargo UAS. Read release

    AFWERX logoU.S. Air Force logo
  13. A Skyways V3 aircraft in flight against a blue sky with clouds

    August 2025 · DoD · North Dakota BVLOS

    Grand Forks To Cavalier, ND

    Skyways flew autonomous cargo between Grand Forks Air Force Base and Cavalier Space Force Station, putting U.S. airport-to-airport military cargo routes on the record. Read mission

  14. Onboard view from a Skyways aircraft over the Baltic Sea on the RWE Arkona route

    2025

    RWE Arkona Offshore Route

    At RWE's Arkona offshore wind farm, Skyways and Skyports completed sub-30-minute flights on a route that took at least an hour by boat. Read mission

    RWE logoSkyports logo
  15. A Skyways aircraft parked on a lawn by the water under a cloudy sky

    2025

    ANA Holdings Investment

    ANA Holdings invested $1 million through its corporate venture fund and signed a long-term partnership with Skyways.

    ANA logo
  16. Skyways aircraft staged at a coastal operating site

    2026

    ANA Okinawa Medical Trials

    With ANA, Skyways completed long-distance medical-delivery trials serving Japan's remote island communities in Okinawa. Read story

    ANA logo
  17. The DSV-liveried nose of a Skyways aircraft in flight over the sea above an offshore vessel, seen from a camera under the aircraft

    2026

    DSV Offshore Energy Partnership

    DSV and Skyways announced a partnership in September 2026: Skyways provides aircraft, pilot training and technical, maintenance and regulatory support for DSV's offshore energy operations, starting in the North Sea from Norden. Read release

    DSV logo

Leadership

  1. Charles Acknin

    Founder & CEO

    Charles co-founded Skyways to reinvent how the world moves cargo, and leads company vision and strategy across engineering, product, and growth. He was previously a senior software engineer at Google and CEO of Elixir Labs, and is a Y Combinator alum based in Austin.

    LinkedIn X

    Portrait of Charles Acknin among pine trees

  2. Isaac Roberts

    Chief Strategy Officer

    Isaac leads Skyways' strategy and defense and government programs. He previously co-founded Scythe Robotics and Replica Labs, began his career in the U.S. Navy, and holds degrees in chemistry from Western Carolina University.

    LinkedIn

    Portrait of Isaac Roberts among pine trees

  3. Bill Wimberley

    Chief Commercial Officer

    Bill leads Skyways' global commercial strategy and business development. His prior leadership roles include Wingcopter and Air Methods/Spright.

    LinkedIn

    Portrait of Bill Wimberley on the field, an aircraft behind him

  4. Jessica Hogan

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Jessica leads Skyways' brand, communications, and investor communications and shapes the company narrative that anchors its industry leadership. Her career spans senior roles at deep tech and manufacturing startups and work for global brands including American Airlines, BP, BASF, and Subaru of America.

    LinkedIn

    Portrait of Jessica Hogan on the Skyways production floor

  5. Grace Moreno-Gongora

    VP, Finance

    Grace leads Skyways' finance function, building the controls and infrastructure the company needs as it grows. She brings more than 15 years across supply chain and finance at Amazon and Chevron and holds an MBA from UT Austin's McCombs School.

    LinkedIn

    Portrait of Grace Moreno-Gongora on the field

  6. Gabrielle Wain

    VP, Regulatory, Policy & Government Affairs

    Gabrielle leads Skyways' regulatory, policy, and government affairs, shaping the path for safe, scalable beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. She previously ran her own policy consultancy, with State and local government affairs and regulatory work for Zipline's P2 aircraft, was VP of Global Policy and Government Affairs at Iris Automation, and earlier served as a political lobbyist in the UK.

    LinkedIn

    Studio portrait of Gabrielle Wain

  7. Stephen Klasinski

    VP, Developmental Manufacturing

    Stephen leads Skyways' developmental manufacturing, supply chain and facilities as the company scales. He brings more than 17 years of aerospace experience, much of it at Scaled Composites on programs including Stratolaunch and Model 401.

    LinkedIn

    Portrait of Stephen Klasinski among pine trees

  8. Kevin Eastland

    VP, Business Development, Defense

    Kevin leads Skyways' defense business development across military logistics and government customers. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former C-17 instructor pilot, he holds degrees from Notre Dame, the Air Force Institute of Technology, and National Defense University.

    LinkedIn

    Studio portrait of Kevin Eastland