AutoFlight operates ‘longest eVTOL flight in history’ at 155 miles

AutoFlight has reported flying the longest eVTOL flight in history at a distance of 155 miles (250km) on a single battery charge. 

The flight, which took place at AutoFlight’s testing facility in late February, consisted of 20 circuits on a predefined flight track. It broke the old record, held since 2021 by Joby, by a single mile.

Back in July 2021, Joby flew its prototype 154.6 miles (247.3km), completing 11 laps of a predefined circuit at the it’s Electric Flight Base in Big Sur, California.

AutoFlight’s flight test team remotely piloted the aircraft from the ground. The Gen4 aircraft, which made the flight, was fitted with third-party avionics to record and verify the distance flown on Boeing’s software firm, ForeFlight.

The flight is recognised as the longest fully electric aircraft flight in history, where the aircraft both takes off and lands vertically. AutoFlight said the long-range test flight is a “key milestone” along the path to airworthiness certification in 2025 with EASA.

AutoFlight’s president, Omer Bar-Yohay, said: “This flight is both a great celebratory milestone, and a testament to the team’s incredible effort and progress in testing and incrementally pushing the aircraft’s performance envelope. It’s a remarkable achievement that shows our aircraft’s capability, and we are excited to continue working towards our next goals all the way to EASA certification in 2025.”

AutoFlight’s Prosperity aircraft uses rotors to lift the aircraft vertically for takeoff, before transitioning to horizontal flight on the wing. The aircraft is capable of speeds in excess of 200kmh, with a range of over 250km.