Aircraft startup AutoFlight has recorded what it claims is the longest electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight.
The flight encompassed 250.3 km and was verified via U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved avionics and ForeFlight.
The company said this distance was a critical step on a path toward European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification of the Prosperity 1 Aircraft, the flagship eVTOL aircraft from AutoFlight.
The Prosperity 1 operates at a lower seat mile cost than other eVTOL aircraft, AutoFlight said. It features a cruise speed of 130 mph and a max payload of 900 lb.
The eVTOL is designed for urban operations as it is a quiet operating aircraft with a hover noise signature of ~70 (dBA) and includes highly redundant systems for safety. It can also operate at night, in all weather conditions and features infrared cameras.
In the video, the Propserity 1 is shown flying in circles in an airport as it vertically takes off, transitions to fixed-wind cruise and then transitions back to vertical decent for final landing. The entire flight took 1 hour and 37 minutes.
