AutoFlight Albatross V400 (production model)

(Photo credit: AutoFlight)

Albatross V400 (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 and in Shenzhen, China, and have several manufacturing facilities across China. 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 the 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 the company is applying interdisciplinary technologies to their aviation products. This includes new materials, artificial intelligence, autonomous technology, sense and avoid in the air technology, multi-redundant flight control systems, microelectronics, 4G and 5G telecommunication systems for multi-channel communication, ground radar assisted remote takeoff and landing function and many others. The addition of such technologies makes the V400 safer, accessible, affordable, more intelligent and environmentally friendly.

Albatross V400 heavy-lift air cargo eVTOL or hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft production model
The V400 is a VTOL heavy-lift air cargo drone and can use an all-electric power source or can use a hybrid-electric power source. With an all electric power source, the aircraft uses eight VTOL propellers for vertical takeoff and landing and for forward flight, uses a pusher and pull propeller configuration. For the hybrid-electric model, the aircraft has eight VTOL propellers and has one pusher propeller. All the VTOL propellers are located on top of two booms that parallel the fuselage. Due to the aircraft's canard wings, this provides a greater range and efficiency for the air cargo aircraft. The main rear wing has small winglets, according drawings of the aircraft.

The empty weight of the aircraft is 300 kg (661 lb), has a maximum payload of 100 kg (220 lbs) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 400 kg (881 lb). With an all-electric power source, the range of the aircraft is 300 km (186 miles). For the hybrid-electric model, the range is 1000 km (621 miles). The aircraft has fixed wheeled tricycle landing gear.

The company foresees the V400 for express logistics, standard cargo delivery, emergency material transportation, medical rescue, fire rescue, disaster relief, industry and government use. The aircraft is versatile enough to be an effective cargo delivery aircraft in cities and in remote areas.

AutoFlight has completed the construction of a V400 prototype and plans on completing its maiden flight by the end of 2020. The company unveiled the Albatross V400 on Sept. 13, 2020, at the 2020 World UAV Federation’s 2020 Drone World Congress in Shenzhen, China. AutoFlight is also accepting orders for the V400.

Autoflight V400 unveiling on Sept. 13, 2020, Shenzhen, China

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL and hybrid-electric VTOL cargo drone
• Piloting: Autonomous
• Capacity: No passengers, cargo only
• Range (all-electric): 300 km (186 miles)
• Range (hybrid-electric): 1,000 km (621 miles)
• Maximum VTOL takeoff altitude: 5,000 meters, MSL (16,404 feet)
• Empty weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
• Payload: 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 400 kg (881 lb)
• Propellers (all electric power source): 8 VTOL propellers and 2 propellers for forward flight. There is one forward propeller and one pusher propeller, this is also known as a push-pull propeller configuration)
• Electric motors: 10 electric motors
• Airframe: Carbon fiber composite
• Length: 6.67 meters (21.88 feet)
• Height: 1.1 meters (3.6 feet)
• Wingspan: 9 meters (29.53 feet)
• Wing area: 4.66 square meters (50.16 square feet)
• Wing: Canard wings with the rear wing having small winglets
• Landing gear: Fixed wheeled tricycle landing gear
• Safety Features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• AutoFlight BAT600 (defunct)
• AutoFlight Carryall V2000CG (production model)
• AutoFlight F240 Hot Wheels (defunct)
• AutoFlight Firefighting (production model)
• AutoFlight Prosperty (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
• Press Release: Autoflight Unveiled V400 eVTOL and Announced eVTOL Roadmap, Electric VTOL News, Sept. 13, 2020
• Article: The world premiere of the intelligent V400 Albatross for long endurance and large load, Autoflight, Sept. 13, 2020
• Article: Shanghai firm unveils unmanned aerial vehicle with a range of up to 1,000 km, CN Tech Post, Sept. 13, 2020
• Article: Autoflight continues to scale up its eVTOL aircraft as it launches the V400, eVTOL, Sept. 13, 2020
• 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