A China-developed 2-tonne electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on Thursday completed a low-altitude cross-city cargo test flight in mountainous area in southwest China's Guizhou Province, marking a new breakthrough in the application of eVTOLs in logistics sector.
The two-tonne eVTOL aircraft, carrying emergency medicines and local specialty agricultural products, took off from a county in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.
The flight test lasted for 40 minutes with a flying distance of 118 kilometers.
Compared to traditional road transport, the eVTOL aircraft, which requires no runway and produces zero carbon emissions throughout, demonstrates a dramatic improvement in low-attitude cargo delivery in Guizhou's mountainous terrain.
Powered entirely by electricity, the eVTOL can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, yet operates with significantly lower noise. The aircraft is designed for short- and medium-range missions including commuting, logistics, and emergency rescue operations.
"Guizhou used to have difficulties in transportation in the past due to its mountainous conditions. With the development of the low-altitude economy and continuous technological upgrades, this environmentally friendly electric-powered aircraft, able to operate with no runway, can reduce the transportation time for agricultural products and emergency supplies by more than 80 percent," said Kong Xubing, deputy general manager of Guiyang Low-Altitude Industry Development Company.
The successful flight test paved the way for the building of a regular cargo air route in Guizhou’s mountainous areas to create a three-dimensional transportation network.
China’s 2-tonne eVTOL completes cross-city test flight
China’s 2-tonne eVTOL completes cross-city test flight
China’s 2-tonne eVTOL completes cross-city test flight
