AutoFlight announces firefighting eVTOL
Aerospace manufacturer AutoFlight has unveiled a prototype electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) for aerial firefighting
The firefighting eVTOL is fitted with four 100kg ‘high-performance fire extinguishing canisters’, which have a combined capacity to extinguish fires with an area of up to 800m2.
The aircraft is based on its CarryAll cargo eVTOL, which can transport a 400kg payload over a distance of 200km, at speeds of 200km/h. AutoFlight stated that the CarryAll is due to receive Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certification by early 2024.
The firefighting version of the CarryAll is now on sale to firefighting organizations for joint development next year.
“The initial demonstrations with potential customers received very encouraging feedback,” said Kellen Xie, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development at AutoFlight. “We will now enter discussions with clients and development partners to evolve the prototype into product, including ground station and supporting systems.”
Imperial College London (ICL), in partnership with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), recently showcased a heat-resistant drone capable of entering burning buildings.