While few electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) startups can yet boast of flying even a single full-scale aircraft, China’s AutoFlight is claiming a world first with the formation flight of three prototypes of its planned Prosperity 1 air taxi.
The June 17 flight at AutoFlight’s test facility near Shanghai involved three of the company's full-scale proof of concept (POC) aircraft. POC 4-3 and 4-4, in the final configuration for the Prosperity, were joined by POC 2, in an earlier configuration.
The aircraft flew on automated predetermined routes supervised by individual safety pilots on the ground. POC 2 flew for 12 min., covering 28 km (17.4 mi.). POC 4-3 flew for 35 min. and 90.9 km, and POC 4-4 for 42 min. and 120 km. AutoFlight in February flew an aircraft 250 km on a single battery charge.
In addition to demonstrating the company’s rapid prototyping and manufacturing capabilities, the aim of the formation flight was “to test the environment for any potential aerodynamic interference of close-proximity takeoff and landing of more than one aircraft,” AutoFlight says.
The flight will “also help AutoFlight better understand and manage how it optimizes applications such as the cargo service planned for launch in Asia next year,” the company says.
AutoFlight is developing a lift-plus-cruise eVTOL vehicle configuration. The latest design has 10 lift rotors on wing booms for vertical flight and three pusher propellers for cruise flight.
Two versions of the 2,000-kg (4,400-lb.) gross-weight aircraft are planned: first the Carryall and then the piloted four-passenger Prosperity 1. Certification of the Carryall by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is expected in 2024.
The Carryall is designed to lift a 400-kg payload 200 km. CAAC certification will allow AutoFlight to begin delivering aircraft to customers in China and Asia and start gathering operational data for certification of the passenger-carrying Prosperity 1.
