Autoflight breaks Joby’s world record for the longest eVTOL flight

It’s a first look at the new aircraft, styled by automotive design guru Frank Stevenson, and appears to be running a strikingly different airframe than the prototype the company has previously shown in cruise transition tests.

Older prototypes used eight lift propellers along a pair of propulsion rails and two pusher propellers at the rear ends of these rails, but the newer aircraft use significantly thicker wings, at least It appears to have four propulsion rails that accommodate eight. And maybe 10 lift propellers. Also, a rail-mounted pusher prop joins another pusher at the back of the cabin. The cabin also looks noticeably larger, and could seat five, but you can’t expect to see anyone flying there at this stage.

automatic flight

The German-designed, Chinese-built Prosperity aircraft is a lift-and-cruise design, so it sacrifices some efficiency in the name of simplicity. In cruising flight, its lift prop remains exposed and locked in a low-drag longitudinal orientation, but in theory it still extends the range of the aircraft compared to more complex tilt prop designs like the Joby S4. taking away cruise flight.

So it was a bit of a surprise to hear that this machine was able to pip Joby’s 2021 eVTOL flight endurance record despite being only 1 mile and a change validated by 3rd party avionics and gear on the aircraft itself It supports Autoflight’s 150-plus-mile (241+ km) range claim nicely, but it’s flying without the dead weight of its passengers on its stomach. We wouldn’t be surprised if Joby goes out tomorrow and sets a bigger target to keep these eVTOL whippersnappers in line, Joby Aviation he founded in 2009.

Still, this is an amazing achievement and, along with the hundreds of VTOL-to-cruise transition flights Autoflight has under its belt, cements the company as a legitimate competitor in the emerging eVTOL market. With nearly US$200 million in funding and plans to be certified and in service by 2025, Autoflight is currently ranked 16th in SMG Consulting’s latest Advanced Air Mobility Reality Index. , with Joby at the top, Volocopter and Lilium both at number one. Headquartered fairly close to Autoflight’s European offices in Germany, they sit at No. 2 and his No. 13 respectively.

“This flight is a wonderful and memorable milestone and a testament to the team’s incredible efforts and progress in testing and stepping up the performance limits of the aircraft.” EASA 2025 We are excited to continue working towards our next goals as we move toward certification. “

Watch the video below to see an earlier Property prototype making a test flight near the city center.

Source: Autoflight