Autoflight Prosperty 1 V1500M (prototype)

Prosperty 1 V1500M (prototype)
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.

V1500M passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
AutoFlight unveiled their V1500M four passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft at a September 2021 airshow in China. The aircraft has also been called Prosperity 1 by various news sources. 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. The Prosperity production model has many differences over the V1500M prototype, such has having 10 VTOL propellers, two booms for the 10 VTOL-only propellers, three pusher propellers and has fixed skid landing gear.

The V1500M prototype eVTOL aircraft has a cruise speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) and has a long flight range of 250 km (155 miles). The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 kg (3,307 lb). The aircraft has a carbon fiber composite fuselage to provide a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft also sports two rear downward facing vertical stabilizers.

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 struts. In addition, the landing legs (or struts) saves weight over retractable landing gear which will help increase the range of the aircraft, reduces the price of the aircraft and reduces maintenance costs.

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: Passenger eVTOL prototype 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: 10 propellers (8 VTOL only propellers and 2 pusher propellers)
• Electric Motors: 10 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 Albatross V400 (production model)
• AutoFlight BAT600 (defunct)
• AutoFlight Carryall V2000CG (production model)
• AutoFlight F240 Hot Wheels (defunct)
• AutoFlight Firefighting (production model)
• AutoFlight Prosperty (production model)
• 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: AutoFlight Lands $100 Million Investment in V1500M Passenger eVTOL Vehicle, Aviation International News Online, Nov. 22, 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 Promises an Air Mobility Cost Revolution with Its Prosperity I eVTOL Aircraft,  Aviation International News Online, Feb. 22, 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