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The procedure, one of the most challenging aspects of eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) flight, was carried out by the unmanned Prosperity I aircraft from Chinese firm Autoflight.
The proof-of-concept flight – in which the four-passenger aircraft switched from a vertical take-off motion to more energy efficient horizontal flight and back again – took place in January, at the company’s flight test area in JiangSu province.
First, the one-and-a-half tonne aircraft flew to 150m using its eight rotors. When it hit an airspeed of 100-110mph, the fixed wing part of the aircraft generated lift.
At that point, Prosperity I entered the transition phase. The rotors on the top stopped spinning and locked in a streamlined position, while the propellers on the rear pushed the aircraft forward like a traditional fixed wing plane. After the horizontal flight, it transitioned back to vertical motion for its descent and landing.
Autoflight CEO Tian Yu, who has over 300 electric aviation-related patents, said: “The team and I are thrilled to have cracked the smooth transition phase of eVTOL flight, unlocking the skies for Prosperity I and our commercial products. We are confident we have a good design underpinned by sound engineering, and delighted to see that the transition was smooth, safe and seamless.”
The flying taxi is designed for short transfers within cities, airport commutes, routes between two nearby cities or trips to the countryside. Autoflight said trips that take hours by car will be reduced to 10 minutes “without being any less safe or more expensive than a car taxi ride”. The developer is aiming for commercial flight in 2025.
Mark Henning, managing director of Autoflight Europe and formerly of Airbus, said: “Achieving a smooth transition phase in record time, from prototype to flight, underlines the calibre of the engineering team we have at Autoflight and gives great confidence as we progress into the development phase and layout plans for our first manned aircraft, the Prosperity I.
“The simplicity of Autoflight’s design lies in our patented ‘lift and cruise’ configuration, which combines superior range and safety with low technical complexity, making it affordable to manufacture, maintain and operate as an air taxi.”
The company recently established a European base in Augsburg, Germany, and received $100m investment from mobility investor Team Global.
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