eVTOL developer AutoFlight has successfully completed the world’s first formation flight of three Prosperity I aircraft in China.

According to the company, the demonstration in Shanghai showcased its capability in rapid prototype design, manufacturing, and its ambition to shape the future of aerial transportation.

“The formation flight is a testament to our commitment towards making aerial transport safe, sustainable, and accessible,” commented Mark Henning, former Airbus Helicopter engineering chief and head of the AutoFlight Europe team. “We have much more to come.”

AutoFlight, which has dual headquarters in Augsburg, Germany, and Shanghai, China, previously achieved a world record flight in February 2023 where one of their prototypes covered 250km on a single battery charge, demonstrating the potential for sustainability in the sector.

In the formation demonstration on 27 July, three generations of the Prosperity I were in flight. The company plans to make the prototypes into products, with a cargo version set to be released for safe cargo transport in Asia next year, and a passenger version gradually developed in the coming years, meeting the highest safety standards for aviation.

“We aim to complement urban and regional means of transport for all people by building very safe, quiet, and affordable airtaxis,” said Tian Yu, founder of AutoFlight.

Watch an exclusive video with Frank Stephenson, AutoFlight’s director of design, here.

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