China’s First Unmanned Convertiplane Makes First Flight

China Science announced on December 18 that the Lanying R6000, the China-developed world’s first 6-tonne tiltrotor aircraft, has completed its maiden flight in Deyang, southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

Boasting both the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities of a helicopter and the fast cruising speed of a fixed-wing aircraft, it can accommodate 6 to 12 people for inter-regional air travel, and operate at 550 km/h with a range of up to 4,000 km, a maximum take-off weight of 6.1 tonnes, and a maximum payload of 2 tonnes.

Sources: China Science X; MILITARNYI