AutoFlight Prosperity (production model)

(Photo credit: AutoFlight)

Prosperity (production model)
AutoFlight
Shanghai, China
www.autoflight.com

Mr. Tian Yu founded AutoFlight in 2016 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. AutoFlight is an aviation technology company specialized in the research and development of autonomous flight and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology and aircraft manufacturing. AutoFlight has set up research and development facilities in Munich, Germany, in Shenzhen, China, has several manufacturing facilities across China, and has a testing and operating center in Los Angeles, California, USA. Mr. Tian Yu is also the founder of Yuneec, the predecessor of AutoFlight, which was a world leader in consumer drones and the manufacturer of e-Spyder single-seat electric ultralight and E430 two-seat electric ultralight which first flew in June 2009.

Safety and reliability is a top priority for AutoFlight and is applying interdisciplinary technologies to their aviation products including new materials, artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, sense and avoid in the air technology, multi-redundant flight control system, microelectronics, 4G and 5G telecommunication for multi-channel communication, ground radar assisted remote takeoff and landing function and many other technologies.

Prosperity passenger eVTOL production model
The Prosperity is an all-electric passenger eVTOL production model aircraft. The aircraft has one pilot and carries four passengers and their luggage. The aircraft has a very modern innovative sleek design that is safe, clean, quiet, all-weather capable, affordable and has a very comfortable ride. The aircraft has large panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views for the passengers.

The cruise speed of the aircraft is 200 km/h (124 mph) and has a range of 250 km (155 m). The aircraft has 13 propellers, 13 electric motors and is powered by battery packs. There are 10 VTOL only propellers and three pusher propellers at the rear of the aircraft. The production model has one canard, one high main gull-wing and has four booms where the VTOL propellers are located. In the rear of the aircraft, there are two downward vertical stabilizers.

The empty weight of the aircraft is 1,870 kg (4,122 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 350 kg (772 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 2,220 kg (4,894 lb). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength and low weight ratio. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

The aircraft features distributed electric propulsion (DEP) using multiple propellers each powered by electric motors, to increase flight safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of the critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft which also provides safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Flight tests and inaugural delivery
The company has made many flight tests with its technology demonstrator and prototype aircraft. In February 2024, the company flew two Prosperity aircraft on an inter-city air taxi demonstration between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, China. The inter-city flight took 20 minutes and the company noted the same trip by car would have taken three hours. On April 3, 2024, the company announced its inaugural delivery of the Prosperity to a client which is based in Japan.

Type certification development
On April 26, 2024, the certification process for the Prosperity aircraft began with the Chinese government, the government accepting the Type Certificate application. On October 31, 2024, AutoFlight successfully hosted a comprehensive Type Certification expert review meeting, at its Kunshan manufacturing center near Shanghai, China, marking a key milestone in the air taxi's certifications process. The successful meeting included AutoFlight, industry, university and government representatives, including representatives of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL production aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 4 passengers and their luggage
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
• Range: 250 km (155 m)
• Empty weight: 1,870 kg (4,122 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 350 kg (772 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 2,220 kg (4,894 lb)
• Propellers: 13 propellers (10 VTOL only propellers, 3 pusher propellers)
• Electric motors: 13 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
• Wings: 1 canard. 1 high gull wing. 4 booms for VTOL propellers.
• Tail: 2 downward vertical stabilizers
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Related Aircraft:

• AutoFlight Albatross V400 (production model)
• AutoFlight BAT600 (defunct)
• AutoFlight Carryall V2000CG (production model)
• AutoFlight F240 Hot Wheels (defunct)
• AutoFlight Firefighting (production model)
• AutoFlight Prosperity I V1500M (prototype)
• AutoFlight V600 (prototype)
• AutoFlight V880CG (prototype)
• AutoFlight V1000 (prototype)
• AutoFlight V1200 (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Autoflight website
• Autoflight YouTube Channel
• Autoflight Instagram
• Autoflight LinkedIn
• Video: AutoflightX passenger eVTOL, Autoflight, date unknown
• Article: AutoFight Reveal V1500M four-seat eVTOL Prototype at Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, eFlight Journal, Sept. 29, 2021
• Article: AutoFlight unveils Chinese eVTOL air taxi, Aviation Week, Oct. 13, 2021
• Article: Autoflight Reveal V1500M four-seat eVTOL Prototype at Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, eFlight Journal, Sept. 29, 2021
• Article: Lukasz Gadowski invests $100 Million in Autoflight, eFlight Journal, Nov. 22, 2021
• Article: China's Rising eVTOL Industry, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2021
• Article: AutoFlight Raises $100M to Advance V1500M, Vertiflite, Jan/Feb 2022
• Article: AutoFlight Aiming at EASA Certification, Vertiflite, Mar/Apr 2022
• Video: AutoFlight Air Taxi Prosperity I POC#2 Full Test Flight Video, AutoFlight, June 7, 2022
• Article: AutoFlight Reveals Test Flight, Vertiflite, July/Aug 2022
• Article: AutoFlight Claims eVTOL Flight Distance Record with Latest Prosperity I Prototype, Future Flight, Mar. 2, 2023
• Article: AutoFlight completes world’s longest eVTOL flight with latest generation ‘Prosperity I’ aircraft, electrek, Mar. 2, 2023
• Video: World's Longest eVTOL Flight - 250.3KM - AutoFlight, Autoflight, Mar. 2, 2023
• Article: EVFLY to buy AutoFlight Prosperity I eVTOL air taxis, cargo drones, Drone DJ, Mar. 16, 2023
• Article: AutoFlight makes history with world's first formation flight of three full-scale eVTOL aircraft, AutoFlight, July 27, 2023
• Article: AutoFlight showcases world's first inter-city Air-taxi flight, Autoflight, Feb. 27, 2024
• Article: AutoFlight delivers first electric air taxi demonstrator to customer in Japan, Autoflight, Apr. 3, 2024
• Article: AutoFlight Delivers First Prosperity eVTOL and Certifies Freighter, Aviation International News Online, Apr. 4, 2024
• Article: Chinese regulators approve AutoFlight’s Type Certificate application for Prosperity passenger eVTOL aircraft, Autoflight, Apr. 30, 2024
• Article: AutoFlight’s Prosperity Air Taxi achieves Key Certification Milestone in Expert Review, Autoflight, Nov. 5, 2024