Autoflight Prosperity I (V1500M)

Prosperity 1 (V1500M)
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.

Autoflight unveiled their V1500M four passenger eVTOL — today known as the Prosperity I — at a September 2021 airshow in China. The autonomous aircraft was made specifically to allow landing or takeoffs from urban landing pads using eight fixed VTOL propellers. For forward flight, the aircraft has a high-wing and two rear pusher propellers allowing the aircraft to have a long flight range of 250 km (155 miles). The V1500M has a cruise speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) to not only make Urban Air Mobility as fast as possible with four passengers and luggage. The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb).

This aircraft has not only been made with redundancy of avionics and propellers but has also been simplified to keep purchase cost, maintenance cost and flight costs down. Instead of using retractable wheeled landing gear which increases the complexity of the aircraft, the designers opted to use four landing legs. These landing legs not only reduces the complexity of the aircraft but saves weight which is always welcome when it comes to aircraft.

On November 22, 2021, it was revealed that the German investor Lukasz Gadowski had invested $100M in Autoflight in order to support its development. The company expects to conduct the first flight for this aircraft in the immediate future.

AutoFlight announced on Jan. 18, 2022 that it had re-established a team in Germany that will focus on accelerating efforts to certify its Prosperity I, an eVTOL aircraft based on the V1500M. The Shanghai-based eVTOL developer has set a goal of certifying the Prosperity I with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) by 2025.

On June 8, 2022, Shanghai-based AutoFlight shared a video of a full-length test flight of a full-scale Prosperity I eVTOL aircraft. The video, which runs for nearly eight minutes, shows an uncrewed Prosperity I during takeoff, flight and landing, and demonstrates the aircraft’s ability to transition between vertical and horizontal flight. The flight took place on June 2 and involved the Prosperity I flying over 8.9 miles (14 km) and reaching a maximum speed of 106 mph (172 km/h).

On March 2, 2023, AutoFlight claimed they made a world record for the longest eVTOL aircraft flight using only battery power. Remotely piloted, the test flight took place on February 23, 2023 in Augsburgh, Germany at the company's test flight facility. The company stated this important flight will help AutoFlight achieve European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification in 2025. The flight also proved the aircraft can cruise at 200 km/h (124 mph) and has a range of 250 km (155 miles). The company expects their production aircraft to be priced around $150,000.00 USD and will be made in China.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL passenger aircraft
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: 4 passengers
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
• Range: 250 km (155 miles)
• Flight Time: Unknown
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
• Propellers: 13 propellers
• Electric Motors: 13 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Large side windows for spectacular views for passengers
• Wings: 1 high wing with two booms
• Tail: Twin boom with two rear ventral fins
• Landing gear: 4 fixed landing gear struts
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• Autoflight BAT600 (defunct)
• Autoflight F240 Hot Wheels
• Autoflight V400 Albatross
• Autoflight V600 (prototype)
• Autoflight V880CG (prototype)
• Autoflight V1000
• 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