AutoFlight today reports that it has achieved the world’s longest eVTOL flight in history with distance of 250km/155 miles on a single charge of the aircraft’s lithium-ion batteries.
According to the company:
“The flight, which took place at AutoFlight’s eVTOL testing facility on February 23, consisted of 20 circuits on a predefined flight track, with the plane remotely piloted from the ground by AutoFlight’s Flight Test team. Interestingly, while AutoFlight’s Gen4 aircraft is fitted with the latest in state-of-the-art avionics, the aircraft also ran third-party avionics to record and verify the distance flown on ForeFlight, an independent system widely used in the aviation sector.
“The flight is recognized as the longest fully electric aircraft flight in history, where the aircraft both takes off and lands vertically. This long-range test flight is a key milestone in the development of the Prosperity I aircraft, as it undergoes continued testing towards the company’s goal of airworthiness certification in 2025 with EASA.”
“The aircraft used in this record flight is the world’s first look at AutoFlight’s newest Generation 4 model, which was penned by legendary designer Frank Stephenson. Frank’s vehicle design portfolio includes iconic successes from brands including Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, MINI and now AutoFlight.
AutoFlight’s Prosperity aircraft is capable of speeds in excess of 200kmh, according to the company, over a range greater than 250km.