Banlan Aviation Technology Company ET-124 (prototype)

(Photo credit: Banlan Aviation Technology Company)

ET-124 (prototype)
Banlan Aviation Technology Company
Tianjin, China
(website unknown)

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 2016, Banlan Aviation Technology Company is in the business of making passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) multicopter aircraft. The company is located in Tianjin, China. The company had a trade show booth at the Zhuhai Air Show in September 2021 in Zhuhai, China. The company has stated they have  multiple patents for their aircraft and technologies.

ET-124 passenger eVTOL multicopter prototype aircraft
The ET-124 is a one passenger eVTOL multicopter prototype aircraft. The aircraft is also known as the Flying Dream. The aircraft has an open cockpit with a front windscreen. The company foresees the aircraft to be used for recreational purposes, tourism and advance air mobility (AAM) in dense urban areas. The multicopter would have a similar use as a motorcycle but without a long range.

While the cruise speed is unknown, the expected range of the aircraft is 21 km (13 m), has an anticipated flight time 20 minutes and the maximum cruise altitude has been calculated to be 3,000 m (9,843 ft). The aircraft has tandem counter-rotating stacked propellers, making a total of four propellers. The propellers might tilt left and right but this can't be confirmed because no website can be found for the company as of March 2025. When in storage or being transported by a car or truck, the propellers tilt down to reduce space. There are four electric motors and the aircraft is powered by battery packs.

The empty weight of the aircraft is 116 kg (256 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 100 kg (220 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 216 (476 lb). For the production aircraft, the fuselage will most likely be made from made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The multicopter aircraft has fixed tricycle strut landing gear.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL multicopter prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range: 21 km (13 m)
• Flight time: 20 minutes
• Maximum cruise altitude: 3,000 m (9,843 ft)
• Empty weight: 116 kg (256 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 216 (476 lb)
• Propellers: 4 propellers
• Electric motors: 4 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Unknown (A production aircraft would probably be made from carbon fiber composite material)
• Cockpit: Open cockpit
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle strut 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.

Related aircraft:

• Banlan Aviation Technology Company ET-C22 (prototype)

Resources:

• Article: China's Rising eVTOL Industry, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2021
• Article: A review of 100 Chinese low-altitude economy companies and 35 domestic eVTOL companies!, ChatPlas, Feb. 20, 2025