Beifei Zhihang TW-5000 (concept design)

(Image credit: Beifei Zhihang)

TW-5000 (concept design)
Beifei Zhihang
Beijing, China
website unknown

Please remember, it is known that information originating from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or inaccurate. The information we provide here is either from company news reports or online articles. We do know that China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" (in the US, it's known as advanced air mobility or AAM). China's low-altitude economy includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.

Founded in 2022, Beifei Zhihang is in the business of designing and manufacturing long-range high-speed passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company is headquartered in Beijing, China. The company has announced they are committed to high reliability and high safety of their aircraft.

TW-5000 long-range high-speed passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft
The TW-5000 is a long-range high-speed passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft has one pilot and can carry up to five passengers and their luggage.

The expected cruise speed for the aircraft is 300 km/h (186 mph) and has an anticipated range of 300 kilometers (186 miles). The aircraft has two tilt-propellers located on the ends of its high main wing. There are four VTOL-only propellers located on booms attached to the main wing and are parallel to the fuselage. The aircraft will be powered by batteries or use a hybrid-electric power source. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has a boom tail with fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Long-range high-speed passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 5 passengers
• Cruise speed: 300 km/h (186 mph)
• Range: 300 km (186 m)
• Propellers: 6 propellers (2 tilt propellers, 4 VTOL-only propellers)
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries or hybrid-electric
• 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 high main wing
• Tail: 1 boom tail
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled 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.

Resources:

• Article: A review of 100 Chinese low-altitude economy companies and 35 domestic eVTOL companies!, ChatPlas, Feb. 20, 2025
• Article: King Kong: Beifei Zhihang develops eVTOL aircraft with a range of 300+ kilometers, iNews, Mar. 11, 2025