Chongqing University ZY-3 (concept design)

(Image credit: Chongqing University )

ZY-3 (concept design)
Chongqing University 
Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
www.english.cqu.edu.cn

The information provided here is as accurate as possible; however, eVTOL information from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or conflicting. China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" — a new push for general aviation — which includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo eVTOL aircraft.

Founded in 1929, Chongqing University is a public university located in Chongquing, China. Chongqing University is recognized for its schools in Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering and Management Science. According to Academic Ranking of World Universities of 2024, Chongqing University is ranked in the 151-200 top universities in the world.

ZY-3 passenger eVTOL concept design
Pictured above, the ZY-3 is a passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft will either be piloted, remotely piloted or use artificial intelligence to pilot the aircraft. The concept design aircraft was developed by Chongqing University’s National College of Excellence Engineers.

While very few specifications of the aircraft have been revealed, the concept design aircraft has six ducted propellers, six electric motors and is powered by battery packs. There is a canopy over the cockpit and passenger area. The aircraft has a three surface wing and the middle wing has two tilting ducted propellers used for forward and reverse flight. The front and rear wings have winglets. The fuselage is expected to be made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has a V-tail. The concept design aircraft might have fixed tricycle landing struts.

It was reported that a prototype of the ZY-3 was developed, manufactured and was successfully flown in January 2025. However, we've been unable to find a picture of the prototype which is why this web page discusses the concept design aircraft. The aircraft has been designed for urban tourism and other for aerial missions. 

It is important to remember that all concept design aircraft specifications are estimated and can or will change as prototypes and production models are made, tested and flown with real world avionics, components and payloads.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL concept design
• Piloting: Unknown
• Capacity: Unknown
• Propellers: 6 ducted propellers (4-VTOL propellers, 2 tilt-propellers)
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Window: Canopy over cockpit
• Wings: 3 surface wing, front and rear wings have winglets
• Tail: V-tail
• 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. 

Company Insights:

• Crunchbase
• Tracxn
• Wikipedia

Resources:

• Chongqing University website
• Chongqing University Facebook
• Article: Chinese eVTOL Aircraft Directory, Part 2, Vertiflite, July/August 2025