Rising from the ancient town of Xizhou in Dali, the blue and mirror like Erhai Lake lies beneath. In the distance, the nineteen peaks of Cangshan are faintly visible in the mist. Passengers can overlook the lake and mountains through the 270 degree panoramic porthole, without a pilot in their seat - this is the real flight just completed by the EHangEH216-S unmanned eVTOL. About 10 minutes later, the aircraft landed steadily at the take-off and landing site in Shuanglang Ancient Town, reducing the original 60 minute drive around the lake to one tenth. This flight took place in the the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, about 2000 meters above sea level. The thin air was once considered as the natural barrier of the electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. However, EH216-S successfully overcame lift attenuation and plateau airflow interference and maintained its original safety and stability by virtue of its self-developed high-altitude propeller and multi redundant flight control system.

Point to point verification of plateau lakes

The test flight selected the most classic and popular section around Erhai Lake - Xizhou to Shuanglang, which is the most frequent and congested route for tourists. EH216-S adopts pure electric power and vertical takeoff and landing, without the need for traditional airport long runways. It only requires a small takeoff and landing apron for operation, with low operating noise and zero emissions, and will not disturb the ecology of Erhai Lake. This flight is regarded by the industry as the world's first manned eVTOL to complete point-to-point verification in a high-altitude lake, providing a replicable model for high-altitude cultural and tourism low altitude connections.

Core parameters and airworthiness qualifications of aircraft

The length, width, and height of the EH216-S fuselage are 6.05 meters, 5.73 meters, and 1.93 meters, respectively. It can carry 2 passengers, has a maximum takeoff weight of 650 kilograms, a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour, and a standard range of 30 kilometers. It is the world's first manned eVTOL aircraft that integrates the Civil Aviation Administration of China's Model Certificate (TC), Production License (PC), Standard Airworthiness Certificate (AC), and Operating Certificate (OC), and has a complete legal and technical foundation for commercial operation.

Expand low altitude scenarios in the western plateau

Previously, this model had completed plateau adaptability test in Nyingchi, Xizang, at an altitude of 3000 meters, and superimposed this verification of Erhai Lake route, proving that the domestic manned eVTOL can stably adapt to complex landscapes such as mountains, plateaus and lakes. Keywords: Low altitude economy, world's first

EHang has signed a cooperation agreement with local aviation companies in Dali. In the future, in addition to low altitude sightseeing and rapid connection to scenic spots, it will also explore public service scenarios such as lake inspection, emergency rescue, and medical material transportation, providing a mature model for the development of low altitude economy in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, and wider plateau areas.Editor/Yang Meiling