AutoFlight, the pioneering British aerospace manufacturer, recently delivered its inaugural Prosperity I eVTOL aircraft to an undisclosed Japanese entity. The announcement, made on 3rd April, signifies a significant milestone in the company’s endeavours as the aircraft begins its journey to the customer’s location in Japan.
Moreover, AutoFlight has attained type certification for its autonomous CarryAll freighter variant, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the realm of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology. The certification, bestowed by the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) on 22nd March, positions the CarryAll as the premier eVTOL model with a maximum takeoff weight exceeding one metric ton to secure such approval.
Recent procurements of the CarryAll, designed with a two-metric-ton maximum takeoff weight, include a substantial contract for 30 units from logistics conglomerate ZTO Express. While AutoFlight, headquartered in Shanghai, has revealed orders for 200 freighter units, specifics regarding the initial deliveries remain undisclosed.
The meticulous CAAC certification process encompassed 46 comprehensive compliance verification tests, evaluating the aircraft’s equipment, systems, and components. Extensive flight testing, comprising 156 sorties and spanning over 10,000 kilometres, further validated the aircraft’s readiness for commercial deployment.
AutoFlight anticipates the commencement of deliveries for the first production models of the CarryAll in the forthcoming months, with initial applications expected in the mountainous terrains of China for cargo transport operations.
Founder and co-chairman of AutoFlight, Tian Yu, expressed gratitude to the review team and colleagues for their unwavering dedication throughout the arduous certification process. Yu emphasised that this milestone lays a robust groundwork for AutoFlight’s imminent large-scale commercial endeavours.
In parallel, the undisclosed Japanese operator is set to utilise the five-seat Prosperity I aircraft for demonstration flights during the Osaka World Expo event slated for 2025. AutoFlight intends to seek a special flight permit from Japanese aviation authorities to conduct these demonstrations, clarifying that operations at the World Expo on designated routes will not necessitate the completion of the entire type certification process.
With an estimated maximum range of 250 kilometres, the Prosperity I has already accumulated approximately 10,000 flight hours during rigorous testing across various iterations, positioning it as a formidable contender in the burgeoning eVTOL market
IMAGE CAPTION : AutoFlight has delivered a pre-type-certification example of its Prosperity I eVTOL aircraft to an undisclosed Japanese operator.
