Global eVTOL pioneer AutoFlight focuses on developing and manufacturing electric aerial vehicles for safe and reliable logistics systems and urban air mobility solutions. The company leverages its expertise in artificial intelligence, 5G, breakthrough materials, and advanced manufacturing from the drone market to drive innovations in the eVTOL industry.
Now, the high-tech startup has announced the launch of a high-payload advanced air mobility firefighting program and released a fully functional prototype of an electric, autonomous firefighting eVTOL.
The firefighting model is based on the CarryAll, AutoFlight’s cargo eVTOL, for which the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification is expected by early 2024.
With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of two metric tons, the firefighting model is designed to lift a 400-kilogram payload. It can fly up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and can reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h (124 mph), making it suitable for rapid response and long-range operations.
The firefighting eVTOL can carry up to four high-performance fire-extinguishing canisters, each weighing 100kg, with the ability to extinguish fires covering up to 200 square meters individually. This allows the four canisters to collectively extinguish fires spanning up to 800 square meters in a single payload.
“Compared to existing firefighting Unmanned Aerial Vehicles available in the market, AutoFlight’s prototype has achieved significant breakthroughs in terms of load capacity, flight duration, coverage, flight efficiency, and firefighting effectiveness,” said Kellen Xie, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Business Development at AutoFlight.
“The initial demonstrations with potential customers received very encouraging feedback. We will now enter discussions with clients and development partners to evolve the prototype into a product, including ground station and supporting systems.”
