China's first aerospace "car-aircraft two-in-one" aircraft has successfully completed its maiden flight

China's first aerospace-made electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) made its maiden flight in Chongqing on Friday (February 6th). This low-altitude aircraft can achieve modular combination like "space-grade building blocks" and will play a role in transportation, logistics, and emergency support fields.

The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, reported that the "car-aircraft two-in-one" aircraft, jointly developed by the Ninth Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and various forces in Chongqing, made its maiden flight at the Dahan Airport in Yongchuan, Chongqing, successfully completing all performance verifications.

It is introduced that this aircraft adopts a split design, consisting of wings, cockpit and chassis, presenting two forms: a flying body and a land vehicle body. The flying body can carry two passengers and fly at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour at an altitude of 3000 meters or below. The land vehicle body is based on an all-electric intelligent line-controlled chassis and can achieve a range of over 300 kilometers.

The "Star Island Headline" in Hong Kong stated that this represents a crucial step taken by China in the field of low-altitude flight and future transportation vehicles.

Meanwhile, the 5-ton eVTOL "V5000 Sky Dragon" independently developed by Fengfei Aviation Technology has recently completed a conversion flight in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province.

The People's Daily reports that the takeoff weight of these products is mostly between 1.5 tons and 3 tons, with a passenger capacity of no more than six people. However, the "V5000 Sky Dragon" has increased its takeoff weight to 5 tons. The all-electric version has a maximum range of 250 kilometers, the hybrid version has a maximum range of 1,500 kilometers, the passenger version can carry 10 people, and the cargo version can transport tonnage of goods, making low-altitude travel and transportation more economically feasible.

Transition flight refers to the process of changing from vertical takeoff and landing to fixed-wing cruising. It can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, and cruise horizontally like a fixed-wing aircraft. This can reduce energy consumption and extend the flight range, and can be used in scenarios such as intercity short-distance commuting and air logistics.