AutoFlight V5000 Matrix, the World’s Largest eVTOL, Flies in Formation With Two Smaller Aircraft

AutoFlight completed a coordinated flight on May 24 that paired its largest aircraft with two smaller models from the same family. One V5000 Matrix eVTOL flew alongside a pair of V2000 series aircraft in what the company called a heterogeneous three aircraft formation. The exercise checked communication between the platforms, shared route planning, and overall safety management across machines that differ sharply in size and weight.

The V5000 Matrix’s wings span an impressive 20 meters (66 feet) from one tip to the other. The body is 17.1 meters (56 feet) in length and 3.3 meters (11 feet) in height. The maximum takeoff weight of 5700 kilograms puts it in a class of its own when compared to other known crewed electric VTOLs. There are two variants of the V5000, and they are very different creatures. The passenger model is entirely electric, with seating for up to ten people in business class or six in a more luxurious configuration. It will take you about 250 kilometers on a single charge. The hybrid electric cargo vehicle, known as the V5000CGH, can lift an amazing 1500 kilos of goods inside a 14 cubic meter hold that can accommodate two standard AKE air cargo containers.

It travels at 280 kilometers per hour and can easily cover 1500 kilometers. 20 lift motors handle the vertical portions, but they also allow the wings to perform the work when cruising, resulting in a smooth transition. As a safety precaution, there is built-in redundancy, which means that even if two of those motors fail at the same time, which is more than likely, I believe, the aircraft will remain under control.

Engineers claimed the successful test flight demonstrated that the shared systems between the V5000 and the smaller 2-ton class V2000 operated flawlessly. Different sizes result in different flying characteristics, therefore they had to organize the timing, spacing, and orders to avoid conflicts. Back in February, the V5000 completed a full transition flight at the Kunshan civil drone test base, which was no easy accomplishment. It took off vertically, switched to wing-supported cruise mode, and then landed vertically again, which is a difficult maneuver for any aircraft that combines the two technologies.

The hybrid freight version of the V5000 has now officially entered the airworthiness certification procedure with China’s Civil Aviation Administration, signaling the end of the research phase and the start of the official regulatory process for commercial use. The certification team at AutoFlight has extensive experience, having worked on aircraft such as the ARJ21 and C919, as well as the Diamond DA42.
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