Xpeng Aeroht's "Land Aircraft Carrier" X3-F Secures Historic Flight Permit in UAE, Begins Manned Tests
Xpeng Aeroht, a Chinese eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) company, announced today that its innovative "Land Aircraft Carrier" flying car, the X3-F, has been granted a special flight permit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This approval, received on the morning of September 10 local time, marks the first time a Chinese flying car company has obtained such a permit for a manned aircraft overseas, officially initiating manned flight tests across multiple locations in the UAE.
The permit was presented to Zhao Deli, founder of Xpeng Aeroht, during a ceremony attended by high-ranking officials. Sheikh Salem, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority, Ismail, Director General of the Transport Authority, and Omar, Deputy Director of the UAE Civil Aviation Authority, jointly awarded the certificate. The event and a subsequent flight demonstration were witnessed by Sheikh Saud, Member of the UAE Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, alongside Zhang Yiming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE.
During the demonstration, a test pilot skillfully maneuvered the X3-F through a series of complex actions, including hovering, forward flight, 360-degree rotations, side flight, and coordinated turns, showcasing its impressive flight stability and control capabilities.
Further solidifying its presence in the region, Xpeng Aeroht signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority. This partnership aims to foster collaboration on test flight certification and scenario applications, exploring the integration of the X3-F into local government transport, tourism, and emergency rescue services.
The "Land Aircraft Carrier" X3-F features a sophisticated cockpit equipped with an intelligent large screen, offering both automatic and manual driving modes. The automatic mode provides advanced functionalities such as route editing, autonomous flight, one-key take-off and landing, and visual assistance. For manual control, the aircraft utilises a single-stick operating system that integrates six-degree-of-freedom control, allowing pilots to choose between "Comfort" and "Sport" driving options. Importantly, pilots retain the ability to take over control at any point during automatic flight.
Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, is recognised for its natural beauty, innovative economic policies, and burgeoning technology sector. Xpeng Aeroht stated that this overseas certification represents a crucial step in the internationalisation of China's low-altitude electric manned flight technology. With the support of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in Dubai, the company is committed to advancing scientific and technological cooperation and exchange between China and the UAE.
