Fengfei Aviation Technology said its Shengshilong No. 4 eVTOL aircraft successfully flew 250.3 km on a single charge, setting a new world record for 2-ton electric flying vehicles.
The previous record was 248.8 km and was set by Joby Airlines of the USA.
Flight tests of the eVTOL Shengshilong No. 4 were conducted at Jining Base (China) and the entire flight was captured using several cameras on the vehicle itself and drones flying nearby.
The all-electric Fengfei Shengshilong No. 4 has a maximum take-off weight of 2 tons, a 5-seat cabin and can fly autonomously. It has a complex configuration: some propellers lift it vertically into the air, others push it forward at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
In flight, after gaining sufficient speed, the takeoff vertical propellers are turned off and the flying car begins to rest on the wing.
The advantage of vertical take-off and landing is that it does not require special airports with runways. Compared to helicopters, a flying car is quieter, greener, safer, more reliable and cheaper.
In the future, it will be used for urban and intercity air travel.