AutoFlight completes first flight
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology firm AutoFlight has marked a significant milestone with its first successful flight in Japan.
On 29 November, the company’s two-ton eVTOL aircraft completed its inaugural demonstration flight in Okayama Prefecture. The historic flight was conducted in collaboration with MASC, a Japanese non-profit organization dedicated to aerospace industry advancement.
With full approval from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), this achievement represents a crucial step forward in MASC’s “Setouchi Community AAM Infrastructure 2028 Project” (SCAI28).
The successful demonstration paves the way for future test flights across multiple Japanese cities, accelerating the path toward commercial Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in Japan. This initiative aligns with the country’s vision for next-generation urban air transportation.
The Setouchi region, a vital coastal area along Japan’s Inland Sea, connects three of the country’s main islands: Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The region currently faces significant challenges, including aging infrastructure in coastal areas and limited transportation options between the mainland and remote islands.
AutoFlight’s eVTOL aircraft features a Lift and Cruise configuration and all-electric propulsion system. Its vertical take-off and landing capabilities eliminate the need for traditional runways, while its efficient transition to horizontal cruise flight enables extended range operations.
This design achieves aims for an optimal balance of range and efficiency, offering a safe, reliable, and environmentally conscious transportation solution.
This eVTOL model, along with the future new model, are poised to serve multiple roles in the Setouchi region, from cargo transport to future passenger transport as well as medical assistance and tourism services, it said.
As countries worldwide race to implement Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions, eVTOL technology has emerged as a key enabler. The industry is advancing through demonstration flights in diverse scenarios, while simultaneously developing essential infrastructure including vertiports, digital management platforms, and regulatory frameworks.
AutoFlight has demonstrated its technical prowess through several milestone flights in 2024. In February and August, the company successfully completed cross-city and cross-sea flights in the Pearl River Delta (Shenzhen to Zhuhai) and a cross-Yangtze River flight in the Yangtze River Delta region near Nanjing, contributing to China’s emerging low-altitude economy.
In May, the company’s two-ton eVTOL aircraft achieved a significant 123-kilometre flight in Abu Dhabi with half of its battery level remaining when it landed.
This latest successful flight in Japan further validates AutoFlight’s technical capabilities and global operational expertise.
