China’s AutoFlight has unveiled Matrix, “the world’s first five-ton class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which successfully completed a public full transition flight demonstration at the company’s low-altitude flight test facility centre,” said the company in a press release.
“During the demonstration, where Matrix flew alongside AutoFlight’s 2-ton CarryAll cargo eVTOL, Matrix completed the full mode transition flight sequence, transitioning from vertical take-off through cruise flight to vertical landing. The achievement validates AutoFlight’s eVTOL technologies across complex aerodynamic systems, high-power electric propulsion, and advanced flight control systems, marking the first time a five-ton eVTOL has achieved full transition flight.
Matrix features a 20-metre wingspan, 17.1-metre length, and 3.3-metre height, with a maximum take-off weight of 5,700kg. The cabin measures 5.25m in length, 1.8m in width, and 1.85m in aisle height, providing 13.9m³ of interior volume. The aircraft will be available in passenger and cargo variants, says the company. The passenger version offers flexible seating configurations, accommodating either 10 business-class seats or six VIP seats. Standard amenities include premium seating, washbasins, lavatories, climate control, ambient lighting, and oversized 1m² windows with 50% enhanced light transmission.
The cargo variant uses a hybrid power system, supporting a maximum payload of 1,500kg, and features a large forward-opening door capable of accommodating two AKE standard air cargo containers, enhancing operational efficiency for ton-scale cargo transport.
AutoFlight’s CEO and Founder, Tian Yu said: “Matrix is not only a rising star in the aviation industry but also an ambitious industry disruptor. It will break the industry perception that eVTOL equals short-haul, low-load, and will reshape the rules of eVTOL routes. Through economies of scale, it significantly reduces transportation costs per seat-kilometer and ton-kilometer, revolutionizing costs and embracing profitability. It covers all scenarios from urban commuting to intercity feeder routes, driving the expansion of the entire low-altitude ecosystem.”
Matrix employs AutoFlight’s compound wing Lift and Cruise configuration with a distinctive triplane layout and six-arm structure, ensuring aerodynamic stability throughout all flight phases. The aircraft’s high-voltage architecture incorporates up to 20 fifth-generation lift motors in a distributed propulsion system, providing redundancy to maintain flight capability in single or dual engine failure scenarios.
The pure electric version offers a maximum range of 250km, while the hybrid-electric variant extends range to 1,500km, aiming the aircraft at regional travel, heavy logistics operations, and large-scale emergency response missions.
For more information
https://www.autoflight.com/en/