AutoFlight breaks barriers: successful intercity flight of Prosperity air taxi
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AutoFlight's revolutionary Prosperity air cab has reached a milestone by successfully completing the first autonomous intercity flight between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, reducing travel time from 3 hours by car to just 20 minutes.
Flying vehicles, which used to be seen only in science fiction, are becoming a tangible reality. During this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, a model that promises to revolutionize mobility was presented, and in Brunete, a vehicle can take you from one end of Madrid to the other in just 15 minutes. Now, the leading developer of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, AutoFlight, has reached a monumental milestone by successfully completing the first autonomous intercity flight.
In an unprecedented feat, AutoFlight's Prosperity electric air taxi completed its historic flight last Tuesday, February 27. The vehicle, designed to carry up to five people, flew from the Chinese city of Shenzhen to Zhuhai in southern China, covering approximately 50 kilometers in just 20 minutes. This route, via the Pearl River Delta, provides a vital connection between the two cities, which is equivalent to a three-hour drive.
This achievement marks a significant advance in urban mobility and represents the first intercity flight of an eVTOL aircraft over the sea. It is also a key step in the certification process for this form of intercity transportation. The company notes that this route is part of the air traffic plan established by the regional government as part of its "low altitude economy" strategy, which calls for the opening of eVTOL vertical airports and air routes in southern China.
AutoFlight has also unveiled near-term plans for 300,000 cargo UAV flights in the region annually. Tian Yu, executive founder and co-chairman of the company, expressed his enthusiasm for demonstrating cutting-edge capabilities in this first eVTOL demonstration flight between cities and over the sea.
The demonstration flight was conducted in one of the world's most densely populated areas, home to approximately 86 million people, and in an airspace bordered by several international airports, including those of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau. The unmanned, fully autonomous test was successfully completed in a highly complex environment, meeting established safety standards and regulations.
Prosperity, designed by the renowned Frank Stephenson, takes off vertically like a helicopter and switches to fixed-wing flight mode in mid-air, allowing it to reach high speeds. In addition to being electric, sustainable, and affordable, this innovative air taxi represents a revolutionary breakthrough with significantly lower noise levels. This achievement by AutoFlight furthers the vision of offering safe, efficient and sustainable eVTOL flight options to cities around the world.
References
Autoflight realiza con éxito el primer vuelo de demostración de su taxi aéreo entre ciudades | Actualidad Aeroespacial1 Retrieved February 28th, 2024 from: https://actualidadaeroespacial.com/autoflight-realiza-con-exito-el-primer-vuelo-de-demostracion-de-su-taxi-aereo-entre-ciudades/
Hito del taxi volador: Completa su primer viaje en ciudad ahorrando más de 2 horas de trayecto | Omicrono, El Español| Retrieved February 27th, 2024 from: https://www.elespanol.com/omicrono/tecnologia/20240228/hito-taxi-volador-completa-primer-viaje-ciudad-ahorrando-horas-trayecto/836166464_0.html
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