China's 2-ton flying taxi completes maiden flight overseas

 

(ECNS) -- China's 2-metric ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft completed its maiden flight in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, setting a new record for the 2-metric ton eVTOL in the Middle East, according to AutoFlight, the developer of the eVTOL.

With approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE, the aircraft accomplished its first flight covering a distance of 123 kilometers. It maintained an endurance of 41 minutes on a single charge, with 44 percent of battery capacity remaining upon landing.

The flight path of the aircraft spelled out the abbreviation of "uae", demonstrating its capability for long-range flights in the region.

The successful flight underscores the safety and reliability of eVTOL technology in the hot desert environment. 

The self-developed 2-metric ton eVTOL aircraft is equipped with a fully electric propulsion system, with a maximum take-off weight of 2 metric tons. It is a fixed-wing aircraft that uses rotors to achieve vertical takeoff before using its wings for horizontal flight. 

The aircraft obtained Type Certification (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in March 2024, marking it the world’s first eVTOL aircraft weighing over one ton to be awarded such type certification. 

The Middle East region is one of the important markets for AutoFlight. The company has successively reached cooperation with some firms in the UAE for market expansion in the region.