# AutoFlight Tests Autonomous Five-eVTOL Formation Over 83 Miles in China

- Published: 2026-11-06 14:33 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Aviation
- Tags: AutoFlight eVTOL formation, autonomous eVTOL flight, V5000 Matrix, V2000CG CarryAll, electric vertical takeoff
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-cd6fccec5d62b25230df4147_autoflight_tests_autonomous/

**The demonstration tested autonomous flight control and separation management across mixed-weight electric vertical takeoff aircraft.**

![AutoFlight Tests Autonomous Five-eVTOL Formation Over 83 Miles in China](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/6ee18901f5a92610.webp)
*Interesting Engineering*

Chinese electric aircraft developer AutoFlight conducted a coordinated formation flight involving five electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on October 31 and November 1 at its Bailian Lake Flight Test Base in Kunshan, China, according to Interesting Engineering [1]. The group remained in autonomous formation for 47 minutes without manual intervention, while the lead aircraft traversed more than 133 kilometers (83 miles) [1].

## Heterogeneous fleet coordination

The flying group brought together different models and weight classes, comprising one 5-ton-class V5000 Matrix and four 2-ton aircraft from the V2000 series [1]. The smaller airframes included the V2000CG CarryAll cargo aircraft and its V2000CGF firefighting variant [1]. According to the manufacturer, the flight systems maintained safe horizontal and vertical separation and stable parameters despite encountering strong winds during the November 1 test [1].

Managing such operations requires flight-control systems to continuously coordinate navigation, inter-vehicle communications, and route adjustments between disparate airframe designs and operational weights [1]. This test follows a prior trial involving three aircraft—one V5000 and two V2000 units—aimed at validating baseline communication links and flight synchronization interfaces [1].

## Aircraft platforms and specifications

The 2-ton V2000CG CarryAll cargo platform relies on a lift-and-cruise layout, utilizing independent vertical rotors for hovering and dedicated wings and propulsion systems for forward cruising [1]. Published specifications for the all-electric logistics model state a maximum takeoff weight of 2,000 kilograms and a payload capacity of 400 kilograms [1].

The V5000 Matrix operates in the 5-ton category, designed for heavy transport and passenger operations, featuring a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kilograms and a maximum cruise speed of 280 km/h [1]. AutoFlight has also developed the V5000CGH, a hybrid-electric cargo variant designed with an operational range of up to 1,500 kilometers [1].

## Sources

1. [Interesting Engineering](https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/autonomous-fleets-five-aircraft-flight)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-cd6fccec5d62b25230df4147_autoflight_tests_autonomous/