World's First Tonne-Class eVTOL Delivered By AutoFlight The Chinese once again have been first in regards to the eVTOL race. You might have heard about eHANG and their EH216-S autonomous 2 passenger eVTOL. They have certified that aircraft since October 2023. Now another Chinese startup has not only certified but also delivered its first specimen to a customer. AutoFlight now boasts of having certification for the CarryAll cargo aircraft. They said that it completed all certification testing back in February 2024. The testing involved 156 flights, exceeding a total flight distance of 10,000 kilometers. Three CarryAll prototypes carried out nine major compliance test categories, including plateau performance, data link and ground station functions in multiple locations including Kunshan, Jiangsu, Gansu and Qinghai.
Now the first unit has been delivered to a customer. Although not a passenger eVTOL, this is still a major milestone. On the 23rd of July AutoFlight announced the delivery of the world’s first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft exceeding one-ton max. take-off weight to achieve complete airworthiness certification with all three required approvals from civil aviation authorities. The CarryAll aircraft has been delivered to Heli Chuangxing Intelligent, marking a historic milestone in commercial eVTOL operations and representing a significant advancement toward the practical implementation of low-altitude economic applications.
The CarryAll represents a breakthrough in heavy-lift eVTOL technology, featuring a maximum take-off weight of 2 tons, payload capacity of 400 kgs, cruise speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour, and range of up to 200 kilometers. The fully electric, unmanned aircraft combines vertical take-off and landing capabilities with fixed-wing cruise efficiency. The aircraft’s flexible deployment capabilities make it particularly suited for low-altitude logistics, emergency supply delivery and disaster response missions.
Flight operations have been conducted across multiple terrains in China, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, including across plains, plateaus, deserts, forests, and over oceans and rivers. This extensive testing program has validated both aircraft performance and the viability of diverse low-altitude application scenarios. They are not just targeting cargo capabilities, but rescue, fire, passenger roles. For more information: AutoFlight B2, No. 288, Jinge Road Jinshan Industrial Zone Shanghai, 201500 ***
