Range Aviation LE200 (prototype)

(Photo credit: Range Aviation)

LE200 (prototype)
Range Aviation
Shanghai, 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 2023, Range Aviation is in the business of designing and manufacturing passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company unveiled its LE200 passenger eVTOL prototype at the 2024 China International Import Expo that took place November 5-10 in Shanghai, China. During the 2024 expo, the company announced they secured 60 letters of intent for the aircraft with Xingyun General Aviation. The company has also announced they have secured purchase agreements for both the LE200 and LEU100 (an air cargo eVTOL aircraft) with Donghong General Aviation (Hubei) Co., Ltd. and the Shanghai Aoyi General Aviation Co., Ltd.

LE200 passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
The LE200 is a passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft. The aircraft has one pilot, carries as many as five passengers and their luggage. The company has not revealed if the power source for the aircraft is an all battery power source or has a hybrid-electric power source. The aircraft is expected to be used for air travel within large dense urban areas. It is unknown (as of March 2025) if the company has actually test flown the prototype aircraft.

The cruise speed of the aircraft is expected to be 200 km/h (124 mph), has a calculated range of 200 km (124 miles) and has an anticipated maximum payload weight of 600 kg (1,322 lb). The aircraft has 18 propellers and has 18 electric motors. The eVTOL aircraft has one high main wing with winglets and has a conventional T-tail. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has retractable tricycle wheeled landing gear.

The company foresees their aircraft receiving government approval to manufacture and fly the aircraft in 2027. The company then expects to manufacture and deliver the aircraft to customers in 2028.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 5 passengers and their luggage
• Cruise speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
• Range: 200 km (124 m)
• Maximum payload weight: 600 kg (1,322 lb)
• Propellers: 18 propellers (16 VTOL-only propellers, 2 pusher propellers)
• Electric motors: 18 electric motors
• Power source: Unknown (The aircraft could possibly use all batteries or has a hybrid-electric power source)
• 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 with winglets
• Tail: 1 convention T tail
• Landing gear: Retractable 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.

Company Insight:

• PitchBook

Resources:

• Article: China eVTOL Aircraft Round-Up, Part 2, Vertiflite, January/February 2025