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The production configuration of Aerofugia’s AE200 eVTOL features aerodynamic and acoustic refinements.
As Airshow China opens in Zhuhai, Aerofugia has unveiled the production configuration of its AE200 electric air taxi, the latest in a welter of news from the country’s bullish advanced air mobility (AAM) industry.
A subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, Aerofugia says the aerodynamics of the six-seat electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft have been optimized while acoustics have been improved using low-speed, high-torque motors and low-noise propellers. The cabin incorporates noise reduction technology to improve ride comfort, the company says.
Also on the eve of the Zhuhai show, Chinese automotive supplier Wanfeng Holdings, owner of Austria-based Diamond Aircraft Industries, announced it plans to acquire the intellectual property for an eVTOL aircraft developed by Volkswagen Group China instead of setting up a joint venture with the carmaker. VW China flew a subscale prototype V.MO autonomous eVTOL in 2022.
Aerofugia’s AE200 has four tilting propellers on the wing and V-tail plus four lift propellers on booms under the wing. Compared with the full-scale technology demonstrator, flown in “airworthiness configuration” in December, the production design has more streamlined fuselage and tricycle gear.
Aerofugia has launched certification work and plans to begin crewed flight testing in 2025. The company is aiming to obtain the first type certification for a six-seat eVTOL in China, targeting approval in 2026. Aerofugia is building its manufacturing base in Chengdu.
Diamond owner Wanfeng Aviation, meanwhile, says plans for a joint venture to develop an eVTOL with VW China have been canceled. Instead the company has signed an agreement to acquire intellectual property and assets from VW. The companies plan to cooperate on design, components, human-machine interface and software to enable Wanfeng to develop its own eVTOL aircraft.
Another Chinese eVTOL startup, Hefei-based Range Aviation, on Nov. 5 announced a purchase agreement with general aviation operator Sichuan Xingyun Aviation Services for 60 LE200 Ray eVTOL air taxis. Range was founded in 2023 and is developing the five-passenger LE200 and the smaller LEU100 medium-size eVTOL uncrewed cargo aircraft. The company has completed two funding rounds this year.
The 200-km-range (125-mi.), 200-kph (125 mph) LE200 has eight lift propellers on four wing booms and two pusher propellers on the tail for cruise. A subscale demonstrator was flown September 2023, and Range is developing a full-size engineering prototype, aiming for certification by the end of 2027.
The 140-kg (310 lb.) LEU100 has a maximum payload of 55 kg and a maximum range of 200 km at 120 kph. A prototype was flown in 2023 and the application for type certification was accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in August. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
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