The first flight of the "air taxi" was successful! It only takes 20 minutes from Shenzhen to Zhuhai. Is science fiction becoming reality?

On February 27, the electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) "Shengshilong" took off from the Shenzhen Shekou Cruise Terminal in Guangdong Province and landed at the Jiuzhou Port Terminal in Zhuhai after about 20 minutes of flight. This is the first public demonstration flight of the world's first cross-sea and cross-city electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft route.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mao Siqian

Shenzhen and Zhuhai are located on the east and west banks of the Pearl River Estuary respectively. In the past, traveling by car required taking a detour via the Nansha Bridge or the Humen Bridge, which took about 2 to 3 hours. This successful flight means that the one-way 2.5 to 3-hour ground driving time from Shenzhen to Zhuhai can be shortened to 20 minutes .

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mao Siqian

The electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) "Shengshilong" was independently developed by Shanghai Fengfei Aviation Technology Co., Ltd. It is understood that the aircraft can carry 5 people, the core module is 100% domestically produced, and the cruising speed can reach 200 kilometers per hour. After obtaining the airworthiness certificate, the aircraft is expected to start manned flight in 2026.

Low-altitude economic potential is huge

Or it will unlock the city's three-dimensional smart transportation network

eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing), the full name of which is electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, is also called "flying car" or "air taxi". It takes off vertically like a helicopter, converts into fixed-wing flight mode in the air, uses pure electric power, and is the latest "hot word" in transportation .

Low altitude is an important natural resource. As a product of aviation electrification, eVTOL is more environmentally friendly and lighter than helicopters, and larger than drones. Its outstanding advantages are vertical take-off and landing, no need for airports, more intelligent, low-cost, easy to maintain, highly safe, and fast commuting time. It is a fast inter-city transportation tool that flies at a low altitude of 300 meters and is expected to become one of the practical solutions for future transportation.

In October 2023, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued the EH216-S unmanned aircraft system type certificate to EHang Intelligent, which is also the world's first unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft type certification. In the same year, the first 2-ton eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) M1 successfully completed its test flight in Shanghai, which also means that the development of the "low-altitude economy" has gradually entered the fast lane.

Will flying cars revolutionize urban travel? Let's wait and see!

Comprehensive sources: Xinhua News Agency, Economic Information Daily, China National Radio, etc.