Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group Eagle-212 (concept design)

(Image credit: Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group)

Eagle-212 (concept design)
Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group
Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
www.seagull-flyingcar.com

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.

Based in Zhuahi, China, Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group is in the business of designing and manufacturing both passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company has established a center for the manufacture of aircraft and the technology needed for advanced air mobility to take place in the real world.

Eagle-212 autonomous passenger and air cargo eVTOL concept design air-ground module vehicle
The Eagle-212 is an autonomous passenger and air cargo eVTOL concept design air-ground module vehicle. For flight, the multicopter pod lifts off from the ground vehicle chassis, flies to its destination and lands on another ground vehicle module. For ground travel, the vehicle effortlessly travels autonomously on any road with the passenger or air cargo pod and takes the vehicle to its destination.

While the cruise speed of the aircraft is unknown, the company has stated the estimated range for flying is 60 km (37 miles) and has a calculated flying time of 40 minutes. The flying pod has a multicopter propeller configuration with 12 propellers (double-stacked), 12 electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The company has stated their air cargo multicopter module can be designed in multiple configurations based on the client's need.

The battery packs can be changed out quickly and the company plans to offer battery packs with a variety of storage capacity options that can be chosen by the client based on the air cargo weight or the range requirements for the flight. The company has reported their aircraft are equipped with autonomous flight technology, an intelligent safety system, a two-stage parachute automatic protection device, an intelligent battery management system, an aerospace-grade AI chip, obstacle avoidance and intelligent navigation.

According to the company, on August 11, 2023, the EAGLE-212 was granted a Civil Aircraft Special Flight Permit by the Civil Aviation Administration’s South Central Bureau (China) which paves the way for crewed flight tests. It is the first eVTOL aircraft of its kind in China to receive this certification, the company announced. The company expects the aircraft to be used for urban transportation, sightseeing, air cargo logistics and emergency rescue service.

Future:
The eVTOL aircraft is planned for mass production in 2026.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type:  Passenger or air cargo eVTOL air-ground modular vehicle
• Piloting: Autonomous piloting
• Capacity: 2 passengers and their luggage, or air cargo
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range (flying): 60 km (37 miles)
• Flight time (flying): 40 minutes
• Air pod propellers: 12 propellers (double-stacked)
• Air pod electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Ground driving module wheels: 4 wheels
• Ground driving module electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs (can accept battery packs with various energy storage capacities depending upon the flight requirements)
• 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
• Landing gear: Lands on the road vehicle module
• 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. The company has stated they have an intelligent safety system. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Related Aircraft:

• Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group Eagle-300-XFA (concept design)
• Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group Eagle-350-HQ  (concept design)

Resources:

• Guangdong Seagull Flying Car Group website
• Article: Flying Car Company Snags CAAC Special Airworthiness Certificate, China eVTOL News, Dec. 16, 2024
• Article: Seagull Flying Car and Partners Launch Research Center, China eVTOL News, Feb. 23, 2025