A Chinese company successfully flew a 5-tonne (4,536 kilogram) electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in a new feat for electric aircraft. The makers at Fengfei Aviation claim it is the largest eVTOL to ever complete a test flight.
During the test flight, the V5000 aircraft took off in VTOL mode, switched to fixed-wing mode for a short flight, and then returned to VTOL mode to land safely. VTOL vehicles mimic helicopters, allowing them to take off and land on helipads or other smaller spaces without requiring supporting infrastructure, such as the runways used by fixed-wing aircraft.
The article continues below
There are several variants of the plane – a purely electric version can reach 250 kilometers, and a hybrid power option can fly 1,500 kilometers, company representatives said in a statement posted on LinkedIn.
The V5000 also comes in two variants, depending on the load it is intended to transport. The passenger version, evocatively named “Sky Dragon”, can carry up to 10 passengers. Fengfei’s English brand, AutoFlight, has developed an alternative version called the V5000 Matrix, which can carry around one ton (907 kg) of cargo.
Takes to heaven
Both versions are built around a 39-inch (20-meter) wide compound wing, supported by a three-surface aerodynamic layout and 20 lift engines. Including 20 motors in the design provides redundancy in case one fails.
Several companies have begun exploring eVTOLs for commercial taxi services, such as Joby Aviation, which has signed a six-year exclusive agreement to operate air taxis in Dubai, and EHang’s pilotless EH216-S, approved for low-altitude commercial tourist flights in China.
Although these vehicles are primarily within the four-to-six-passenger range of urban transport – and tend to be significantly lighter than the V5000. Most of them are designed for short-distance urban hops, while the V5000 demonstrates the possibility of longer regional transport. Some, like Joby and Archer, are backed by major airlines (Delta in Joby’s case, United in Archer’s), giving them a leg up toward FAA certification.
No specific certification timeline for the V5000 Sky Dragon/Matrix after the test has been publicly announced, although the company’s smaller V2000CG (2-ton cargo eVTOL) already has key certifications in China for airworthiness along with health and safety.
Fengfei – specifically AutoFlight – also benefits from a major investment from leading battery developer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
