On August 1st, Autoflight’s Prosperity eVTOL electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft successfully completed its first flight across the Yangtze River. The flight began at the Nanjing UAV Base in Nanjing’s Pukou District, crossed the Yangtze River, circled above it, and then returned to the base. The total journey covered 25 kilometers, with a round-trip flight duration of 10 minutes.
The Prosperity eVTOL aircraft, powered by pure electric propulsion, is capable of vertical take-off and transitioning to fixed-wing flight for horizontal cruising. It combines the flexibility of helicopter-like take-offs and landings with the advantages of low noise, environmental friendliness, and significant cost savings compared to traditional helicopters. For these reasons, the Prosperity eVTOL is also known as an “air taxi” or “flying car” and is expected to play a significant role in urban and intercity low-altitude transportation in the future.
As a crucial transportation hub on the Yangtze River’s golden waterway, Nanjing, like many other cities along the river, has multiple bridges spanning the river. However, some cross-river trips are still hindered by the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. For example, the journey from the Nanjing UAV Base to the Yuzui Wetland Park on the opposite bank, although not far in a straight line, requires a 20-kilometer drive that takes 25 minutes. In contrast, the Prosperity can make the direct flight in just 5 minutes, saving 80% of the time.
Moreover, Nanjing is home to numerous tourist attractions, with severe traffic congestion around popular sites during holidays or peak periods. Using eVTOL to connect these attractions can alleviate road congestion and offer tourists a unique aerial view of the ancient capital’s modern scenery, enhancing both travel convenience and the sightseeing experience.
Autoflight has consistently invested in technology development and airworthiness certification, while also actively promoting the implementation of eVTOL in various scenarios. In February this year, Autoflight completed the world’s first intercity and cross-sea flight (from Shenzhen to Zhuhai), reducing the 3-hour ground journey to a 20-minute flight. Additionally, in May, Autoflight completed the first flight of a ton-class eVTOL over a distance of 123 kilometers in the UAE.
The Prosperity’s flight across the Yangtze River represents another breakthrough in typical eVTOL applications. There are over 20 major cities along the Yangtze River, each with its own Yangtze River bridge, with construction costs for a single bridge ranging from several billion to over ten billion yuan. Yet, many areas remain uncovered. eVTOL cross-river flights can make travel between the two sides of the Yangtze River more efficient and convenient, achieving a direct reach in just 5 minutes.
Additionally, Chinese regulators have approved AutoFlight’s Type Certificate (TC) application for the Prosperity passenger eVTOL aircraft. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has officially accepted AutoFlight’s application for the TC of their Prosperity 5-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This news comes just weeks after AutoFlight’s CarryAll cargo eVTOL obtained the TC issued by the CAAC in March, making it the world’s first ton-level eVTOL aircraft to receive this certification.
References:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/fortune/20240802/a70d245c42d54012a1370d6e09ed6d18/c.html
https://www.autoflight.com/en/news/autoflights-tc-application/
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