Photo: Xpeng Aeroht
A tiltrotor aircraft is not something we common Joes deal with on a regular basis. The design is mostly used by some of the world's militaries on machines meant to carry troops and firepower to where they're needed. But they may soon come a time when civilians might enjoy the benefits of such designs as well, if we are to trust what a Chinese company called Xpeng Aeroht is saying.
The name may be familiar, as it's been in the news quite a lot lately, thanks to something called the Land Aircraft Carrier. Marketed as a flying car, the design is actually a very large van that can carry a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. And it too is something that's closer to reality than to the world of dreams.
It was only at the end of October when Xpeng announced that it had started building the assembly facility where no less than 10,000 Land Aircraft Carriers will be produced each year. In fact, the company plans to start receiving pre-orders for the vehicles by the end of this year.
Earlier this month the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou hosted what is known in the industry as the Xpeng AI Day. There, the Chinese confirmed that the Carrier (or at least the flying part of it) achieved manned flight, and that's something huge in the development of this means of transportation. But the same event was also where we learned a thing or two about something called the X5, or the 005.
That would be the tiltrotor aircraft that got us here today. As with any such designs, it has the advantage that it can take off and land vertically, needing little in the way of infrastructure, but it can then transition to horizontal flight, just like an airplane, reaching speeds helicopter-style machines are uncapable of reaching.
Xpeng says the "X5 will feature a full tilt-rotor design," and judging by the video of it in action (check it out below this text) we're dealing with something powered by no less than six propellers. They all spin courtesy of an undisclosed electric powertrains, and can rotate to do so horizontally when taking off and landing, and vertically when in full flight.
Not much about the design is known at the moment, as the Chinese don't plan to make it a reality of our lives until the end of the decade, but we do know a thing or two about what's expected from it.
The X5 will be able to carry up to six people, and can move them through the air at speeds that can reach 224 mph (360 kph). The maximum distance it can cover is 311 miles (500 km), making it ideal for use in the intercity transportation business.
We'll keep an eye out for more details on the Xpeng X5, and we'll report back as soon as we learn more.
It was only at the end of October when Xpeng announced that it had started building the assembly facility where no less than 10,000 Land Aircraft Carriers will be produced each year. In fact, the company plans to start receiving pre-orders for the vehicles by the end of this year.
Earlier this month the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou hosted what is known in the industry as the Xpeng AI Day. There, the Chinese confirmed that the Carrier (or at least the flying part of it) achieved manned flight, and that's something huge in the development of this means of transportation. But the same event was also where we learned a thing or two about something called the X5, or the 005.
That would be the tiltrotor aircraft that got us here today. As with any such designs, it has the advantage that it can take off and land vertically, needing little in the way of infrastructure, but it can then transition to horizontal flight, just like an airplane, reaching speeds helicopter-style machines are uncapable of reaching.
Xpeng says the "X5 will feature a full tilt-rotor design," and judging by the video of it in action (check it out below this text) we're dealing with something powered by no less than six propellers. They all spin courtesy of an undisclosed electric powertrains, and can rotate to do so horizontally when taking off and landing, and vertically when in full flight.
Not much about the design is known at the moment, as the Chinese don't plan to make it a reality of our lives until the end of the decade, but we do know a thing or two about what's expected from it.
The X5 will be able to carry up to six people, and can move them through the air at speeds that can reach 224 mph (360 kph). The maximum distance it can cover is 311 miles (500 km), making it ideal for use in the intercity transportation business.
We'll keep an eye out for more details on the Xpeng X5, and we'll report back as soon as we learn more.
Meet the X5 (internal codename)—our latest tilt-rotor eVTOL concept designed for speed, range, and seamless city-to-city travel. Ready for takeoff into the next era?#XPENGAEROHT #FlyingCar #X5 #XPENGAIDay pic.twitter.com/H36neTZqzH
— XPENG AEROHT (@XPENG_AEROHT) November 6, 2024
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