Key Highlights:

• China has unveiled the world’s first 5-ton-class passenger eVTOL
  
• The V5000 completed a full conversion flight, proving the large eVTOL’s feasibility
  
• It can carry 10 passengers and fly up to 1500 km in hybrid mode
  

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World’s First 5-Ton eVTOL Takes Flight

China has reached a major aviation milestone with the successful flight of the world’s first 5-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the V5000. The aircraft completed a full conversion flight at the Kunshan Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Test Flight Operation Base in Jiangsu Province, smoothly transitioning from vertical takeoff to fixed-wing cruise and back to vertical landing. The flight was confirmed by local authorities, marking a breakthrough for large-scale eVTOL development.

From Concept to Large-Scale Air Taxi

The V5000 Sky Dragon was independently developed by Fengfei Aviation Technology, while the passenger-focused V5000 Matrix was unveiled by AutoFlight. Unlike most eVTOLs in service today, which weigh under 3 tons and carry fewer than six passengers, the V5000 enters a new class. It seats 10 passengers or carries multi-ton cargo, showing that eVTOLs can scale beyond small urban air taxis.

Design, Range, and Capability

The aircraft uses a compound wing and three-surface aerodynamic layout, powered by up to 20 lift motors. Its high-redundancy design allows safe flight even with motor failures. The pure-electric version offers a 250 km range, while the hybrid variant can reach up to 1,500 km, opening the door to regional routes and logistics missions.

Why This Matters Globally

Leading Western eVTOL developers remain focused on lighter aircraft for short city trips. None have flown a 5-ton-class eVTOL. The V5000 shows China moving faster toward large, practical, multi-role eVTOLs, signaling a shift from experimental air taxis to real aerial transport systems.

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