Dream Sky Technology DF3000 (concept design)

(Image credit: Dream Sky Technology)

DF3000 (concept design)
Dream Sky Technology
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.

Dream Sky Technology was founded in 2022 and is in the business of designing and manufacturing passenger and air cargo hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The company is located in China. During November 2024, the company announced a strategic partnership too place with Western General Aviation Industry Investment Holding Co., Ltd., Xiya Helicopter Aviation Co., Ltd., Yueda Automobile Science and Technology Innovation Fund, Xiaochi Capital and Tongwei Capital. Dream Sky successfully raised several million yuan in seed funding in 2023 to advance its efforts.

DF3000 long-range passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
The DF3000 is a long-range one pilot and four passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft. The aircraft will be spacious enough for its passengers and their luggage. The aircraft has been made for long-range travel in China's low-altitude economy providing the public with easy access to air travel in both urban and rural areas.

While most specifications for the aircraft are unknown at this time (March 2025), the estimated range of the aircraft is 1,000 km (621 m) and has an approximate payload weight of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb). The aircraft has eight propellers, eight electric motors and is powered by a hybrid-electric power source. There are four dedicated VTOL-only propellers, two tractor propellers and two pusher propellers which are all located on the high main gullwing wing of the aircraft. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has a V-tail and has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

The company foresees the aircraft to be used for regional passenger transportation, emergency rescue and for air cargo logistics. The company intends to have the DF3000 to enter production by the end of 2025 with mass production taking place sometime in 2027.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Long-range passenger hybrid-electric VTOL concept design aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 4 passengers
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range: 1,000 km (621 m)
• Maximum payload weight: ~1,000 kg (2,205 lb)
• Propellers: 8 propellers (4 VTOL-only propellers, 2 tractor propellers, 2 pusher propellers)
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Hybrid-electric power source
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Wings: 1 high main gullwing
• Tail: 1 V-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. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

Resources:

• Article: (Another) Chinese eVTOL Company You May Not Have Heard Of, China eVTOL News, Aug. 10, 2024
• Article: China eVTOL Aircraft Round-Up, Part 2, Vertiflite, January/February 2025
• Article: First Ton-Level Hybrid eVTOL Powered by Liquid Hydrogen Completes Flight, China eVTOL News, Jan. 10, 2025