WeFly (Qifei Aviation Technology) WF-01 (subscale prototype)

(Photo credit: WeFly)

WF-01 (subscale prototype)
WeFly (Qifei Aviation Technology)
Suzhou, Jiangsu, 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 January 2022 in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, WeFly is a Chinese eVTOL startup and is in the design and production of very quiet on-demand long-range passenger and air cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing eVTOL passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The company expects the operating costs of their aircraft will be low. According to some websites, WeFly is a division of the Qifei Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. located in Suzhou, China. 

WeFly announced on April 28, 2022, that it had closed tens of millions of US dollars in angel funding from INCE Capital and Linear Capital which will be used primarily to build their engineering team, for product design and development of their prototype aircraft. Canglan Capital served as the exclusive financial adviser. In 2024, at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (November 12–17, 2024) in Zhuhai, China, WeFly announced they secured a ¥10B (USD $1.4B) agreement with Ruohang Industrial Group for 500 of these aircraft.

WF-01 eVTOL subscale prototype
The WF-01 is an eVTOL subscale prototype that is piloted remotely or possibly has autonomous piloting. The aircraft does not carry any pilots or passengers. However, the prototype might have a cargo hold to simulate real world air cargo. The subscale prototype has made successful test flights.

While the cruise speed of the prototype is unknown, the prototype has six VTOL-only propellers, has two ducted fans for forward flight and has eight electric motors. The aircraft is powered by batteries. The prototype has two booms under the high main wing and the booms hold eight VTOL-only propellers. The empty weight of the subscale prototype is 500 kg (1,100 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 100 kg (220 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kg (1,320 lb). The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite for a high strength to low weight ratio. There is one rear vertical stabilizer and had fixed skid landing gear.

The company foresees its full-scale production aircraft to be used in multiple aerial applications such as on-demand air tax service, air tourism, emergency medical transportation, disaster response, humanitarian aid, police, fire, government use, air cargo and more. The company expects their aircraft to land and takeoff from the tops of buildings and in parking lots, eliminating most of the need for having to use airports. Once aircraft are in serial production, the company foresees their operation will pay for itself in about a year.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL subscale prototype aircraft
• Piloting: Remote or autonomous
• Capacity: Simulated passenger or simulated cargo capability
• Cruise speed: Unknown
• Range: Long-range, the actual range is unknown
• Empty weight: 500 kg (1,100 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 600 kg (1,320 lb)
• Propellers: 6 VTOL-only propellers, 2 ducted fans for forward flight
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: None
• Wings: 1 main high wing
• Tail: 1 vertical stabilizer
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Most likely: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• WeFly WF-01 (subscale prototype)
• WeFly WF-02 (concept design)
• WeFly WF-02 (technology demonstrator)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Tigerrobo
• Tigerrobo (Ince Capital)

Resources:

• WeFly website (unknown)
• Article: eVTOL Startup WEFLY Secures Tens of Millions of Dollars in Angel Investment, Pan Daily, May 5, 2022
• Article: eVTOL Maker WEFLY Secures Tens of Mns of USD in Angel Round, Equal Ocean, May 6, 2022
• Article: Chinese eVTOL startup WEFLY secures tens of millions of dollars in angel round funding, CNEV Post, May 9, 2022
• Article: China eVTOL Aircraft Round-Up, Part 2, Vertiflite, January/February 2025
• Article: Chinese eVTOL Aircraft Directory, Part 1, Vertiflite, May/June 2025