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AutoFlight Demonstrates China’s Largest 10-Passenger Electric VTOL Prototype
AutoFlight’s Matrix prototype completed a low-altitude test flight carrying 10 passengers, with one-hour endurance, advancing China’s low-altitude economy development, experts said.
- AutoFlight demonstrated the Matrix at its Kunshan test site, observed by The Associated Press, showcasing its potential as China’s largest 10-passenger eVTOL.
- To demonstrate feasibility, AutoFlight staged the larger-aircraft flight to show how much bigger eVTOLs could scale, but permits and facilities remain incomplete for regular low-altitude flight ecosystem operations.
- The Matrix is a 5-ton electric VTOL with about a 20-meter wingspan, and during the demonstration staff moved it from a hangar to the helipad, ran checks, and it rose, completed two laps, and landed smoothly.
- The Matrix is still a prototype and needs operator and type certificates before carrying passengers, with AutoFlight hoping to secure a type certificate by 2027 and industry estimates citing at least three more years.
- EHANG in Guangdong has already won certification to fly passengers, while economists say China must ensure safety, build infrastructure and sort routing for a low-altitude economy using drones in Shenzhen.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Chinese Companies Get Flying Taxis Off the Ground
A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in a southeastern Chinese city. In a hangar in Kunshan, about 35 miles west of the port of Shanghai, a sort of gigantic drone was being prepared for a demonstration. The Matrix is a 5-ton...
The Virginian Pilot
China’s 10-passenger electric aircraft, the Matrix, hints at how big flying taxis can be
By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO KUNSHAN, China (AP) — A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in this southeastern Chinese city. Related Articles Hungary detains 7 Ukrainians and seizes $80 million cash shipment. Kyiv calls move ‘taking hostages’ Americans stuck in the Middle East recount finding their way home with little government help Hegseth’s comments are a reminder th…
Devdiscourse
The WeekChina's 10-passenger electric aircraft hints at how big flying taxis can be
China's 10-passenger electric aircraft hints at how big flying taxis can be A glimpse of what the future of flying taxis might look like can be seen in this southeastern Chinese city. In a hangar in Kunshan, more than 60 kilometres (about 37 miles) west of the port of Shanghai, a sort of gigantic drone was preparing for a demonstration. Called the Matrix, it's a 5-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, considered the larges…
Associated Press News
China's 10-passenger electric aircraft, the Matrix, hints at how big flying taxis can be
A Chinese company has developed what it claims is the world’s largest flying electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, or eVTOL.
The Chinese company AutoFlight, developed the Matrix, an electric take-off and vertical landing vehicle (eVTOL by its acronym in English), an aircraft of 5 tons of weight, considered the largest electric aircraft built so far, at least in China, capable of transporting up to 10 passengers. It has a wingspan of 20 meters and is 17.1 meters long and 3.3 meters high. It is able to stay in the air for an hour without being recharged. Flying Taxi The…
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