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China-EVTOL/First Demo Flight
Shanghai, China - Jan 16, 2025 (SMG INTERNATIONAL - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle EH216-S taking off during inaugural demo flight
2. Various of demo flight in progress
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) He Tianxing, vice president, EHang Holdings Ltd.:
"Our tests have demonstrated that the aircraft can maintain safe and stable flight even with the failure of up to five propellers."
4. EH216-S in flight
5. Various of EH216-S landing
6. Various of EH216-S parked at airport, visitors
The EH216-S, a groundbreaking pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle, successfully completed its inaugural demo flight over downtown Shanghai, its manufacturer EHang announced Thursday.
The debut was a landmark moment for Ehang, based in south China's Guangdong Province, as well as for the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The company will also launch the regular trial operation of eVTOL sightseeing routes along the Huangpu River at Longhua Airport in Shanghai as part of its preparations to introduce commercial air taxi services in the city.
After take-off, the pilotless aircraft flew for approximately 5 minutes along the Huangpu River, with the entire test flight lasting around 7 minutes.
The EH216-S is capable of carrying two passengers with a maximum payload of 220 kg. Powered by 16 propellers, the vehicle can take off and land vertically and cruise at a speed of up to 130 km/h at an altitude of under 1,000 meters, with a maximum range of 30 km in a straight line.
The manufacturer emphasized that the aircraft boasts ample redundancy to ensure passenger safety during flights.
"Our tests have demonstrated that the aircraft can maintain safe and stable flight even with the failure of up to five propellers," said He Tianxing, vice president of EHang.
Beyond tourism and passenger transit, EHang expects the model to have applications in urban logistics and even emergency response. The company also plans to expand operations along the Yangtze River Delta G60 sci-tech corridor, an area that covers nine cities including Shanghai.
The EH216-S is the world's first eVTOL aircraft to have obtained a type certificate, production license, and standard airworthiness certificate and has completed over 56,000 safe test flights.
The company aims to obtain an operation certificate (OC) for the aircraft in 2025.
China-EVTOL/First Demo Flight
Dateline : Jan 16, 2025
Location : China
Duration : 1'15
Shanghai, China - Jan 16, 2025 (SMG INTERNATIONAL - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle EH216-S taking off during inaugural demo flight
2. Various of demo flight in progress
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) He Tianxing, vice president, EHang Holdings Ltd.:
"Our tests have demonstrated that the aircraft can maintain safe and stable flight even with the failure of up to five propellers."
4. EH216-S in flight
5. Various of EH216-S landing
6. Various of EH216-S parked at airport, visitors
The EH216-S, a groundbreaking pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle, successfully completed its inaugural demo flight over downtown Shanghai, its manufacturer EHang announced Thursday.
The debut was a landmark moment for Ehang, based in south China's Guangdong Province, as well as for the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The company will also launch the regular trial operation of eVTOL sightseeing routes along the Huangpu River at Longhua Airport in Shanghai as part of its preparations to introduce commercial air taxi services in the city.
After take-off, the pilotless aircraft flew for approximately 5 minutes along the Huangpu River, with the entire test flight lasting around 7 minutes.
The EH216-S is capable of carrying two passengers with a maximum payload of 220 kg. Powered by 16 propellers, the vehicle can take off and land vertically and cruise at a speed of up to 130 km/h at an altitude of under 1,000 meters, with a maximum range of 30 km in a straight line.
The manufacturer emphasized that the aircraft boasts ample redundancy to ensure passenger safety during flights.
"Our tests have demonstrated that the aircraft can maintain safe and stable flight even with the failure of up to five propellers," said He Tianxing, vice president of EHang.
Beyond tourism and passenger transit, EHang expects the model to have applications in urban logistics and even emergency response. The company also plans to expand operations along the Yangtze River Delta G60 sci-tech corridor, an area that covers nine cities including Shanghai.
The EH216-S is the world's first eVTOL aircraft to have obtained a type certificate, production license, and standard airworthiness certificate and has completed over 56,000 safe test flights.
The company aims to obtain an operation certificate (OC) for the aircraft in 2025.
ID : 8412622
Published : 2025-01-18 15:37
Last Modified : 2025-01-18 16:35:32
Source : SMG INTERNATIONAL
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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