- Autonomous cargo plane completed 120 km mountain delivery in just 37 minutes
- Hybrid air and rail transportation enabled delivery of fresh tea within 24 hours
- CarryAll drone carries up to 400 kg with an operational range of 200 km
Chinese aerospace company AutoFlight has carried out a 2-tonne eVTOL transport test transporting fresh spring tea through mountainous terrain in Guizhou province.
The trial used its CarryAll (V2000CG), an unmanned electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, to transport freshly harvested tea between the cities of Anshun and Guiyang, approximately 120 kilometers apart.
That flight crossed steep mountain terrain in 37 minutes, a trip that typically takes much longer by road due to the winding routes and elevation changes common in the region.
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Maximum payload of 400 kg.
Once the plane delivered the tea to Guiyang, the shipment continued by high-speed train to Shanghai, covering a total distance of nearly 2,000 kilometers.
The combined use of airplanes and railways allowed tea to reach consumers within 24 hours of harvesting, offering a different way to transport urgent agricultural products from remote regions.
Unlike conventional cargo aircraft, the CarryAll operates without a pilot on board and relies on autonomous flight systems to handle navigation and route execution.
The aircraft supports a maximum payload of 400 kg and has a range of up to 200 km, with a cruising speed of approximately 180 km/h, making it suitable for medium-distance cargo routes where roads are slow or unreliable.
The vertical takeoff and landing capability eliminates the need for runways, allowing operations from compact platforms near farms or logistics centers, which could simplify deployment in mountainous or isolated areas.
AutoFlight said CarryAll (V2000CG) holds type, production and airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, making it one of the first large cargo eVTOL platforms to reach that stage of regulatory approval.
“This innovative ‘eVTOL autonomous air transfer + high-speed railway trunk line’ model breaks the logistics bottlenecks in high-altitude mountainous areas. AutoFlight will join hands with more partners to extend this autonomous, green and efficient freight model to more specialized agricultural production areas,” said Li Yun, CCO of AutoFlight.
“This will help more high-quality local agricultural products quickly reach national markets, driving regional industrial modernization and rural revitalization.”
AutoFlight cargo aircraft have previously flown missions involving offshore platforms, intercity cargo and emergency firefighting support, showing how the technology is being tested beyond controlled demonstrations.
The company is also working on a six-seat passenger version, identified as V2000EM Prosperity, which is undergoing airworthiness certification by Chinese aviation authorities.
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