AutoFlight in Nanjing Leads the Way for Air Taxis
AutoFlight's Prosperity eVTOL aircraft successfully flew across the Yangtze River in Nanjing. The aircraft establishes a new world record for the longest single-battery charge flight range. Nanjing intends to develop more than 120 low-altitude aviation routes by 2026 to suit a variety of low-altitude airspace users.
A pioneering eVTOL aircraft successfully completed its first flight over the Yangtze River in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, providing a glimpse into the future of urban air travel and cultural tourism. These air taxis, as they are widely known, offer a new viewpoint on short-haul flights within cities, with the ability to take off and land without the use of regular runways.
With zero carbon emissions and lower noise levels than traditional helicopters, eVTOL aircraft are gaining popularity among corporations and governments. Trials are currently underway to investigate how these aircraft could improve urban aerial logistics and ease air travel in a variety of settings.
A five-seater Prosperity eVTOL aircraft weighing 2 metric tonnes and developed by Shanghai-based AutoFlight recently completed an impressive flight in Nanjing. The aircraft took off from the unmanned aerial vehicle base at Pukou High-tech Zone and flew above the Yangtze River, reaching a height of 250 metres before returning in five minutes.
Xie Jia, senior vice-president of AutoFlight, highlighted the efficiency of eVTOL aircraft by pointing out that while the straight-line distance between the take-off and landing locations was 5.5 km, a ground vehicle would cover 20 km in a 25-minute journey. The stunning aerial views that eVTOL aircraft may provide highlighted their potential in tourism, potentially easing road congestion while improving the entire visitor experience.
Notably, the Prosperity aircraft achieved a new world record for the longest single battery charge flight range of 250.3 km. Xie Jia underlined the cost advantages of eVTOL aircraft over urban helicopters, predicting a cost of around 6 yuan per kilometre.
Looking ahead, AutoFlight expects manned operations to begin no sooner than 2026, with potential uses in courier services in difficult terrains like as mountainous regions and islands where typical road transit is impractical.
Nanjing, which serves as a vital hub for unmanned aerial experiments, plans to open over 120 low-altitude air routes by 2026, catering to a wide range of low-altitude airspace users. The city's ambitious three-year plan calls for the development of a complete low-altitude flight support system, which includes various aircraft takeoff and landing sites, airspace designation, and strict low-altitude management rules.
AutoFlight's Prosperity eVTOL aircraft completes a successful flight over the Yangtze River in Nanjing.
The aircraft sets a new world record for the longest single battery charge flight range.
Nanjing plans to open more than 120 low-altitude air routes by 2026 to accommodate diverse low-altitude airspace users.
Source: CHINA DAILY