Kunshan, China: Chinese electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer AutoFlight has completed what it describes as the world’s first five-aircraft mixed-fleet eVTOL formation flight, bringing together five aircraft across two weight classes and three models.
The demonstrations took place on 31 October and 1 November 2026 at the company’s Bailian Lake Flight Test Base in Kunshan, China. AutoFlight announced the achievement on 3 November 2026, confirming that the formation comprised one 5-tonne V5000 Matrix and four 2-tonne eVTOLs. The aircraft represented three models: the V5000 Matrix, V2000CG CarryAll cargo eVTOL and V2000CGF CarryAll firefighting eVTOL.
The five aircraft completed a coordinated 47-minute flight, with the lead V5000 Matrix covering more than 133 km. AutoFlight said the entire formation was conducted autonomously, without manual intervention. The company also reported that the aircraft maintained stable flight and safe horizontal and vertical separation despite strong winds on 1 November.
Coordinating aircraft of different sizes and operational roles required route planning, flight control, communication and safety management. The demonstration followed AutoFlight’s three-aircraft formation flight in May 2026, which involved one 5-tonne Matrix and two 2-tonne Prosperity eVTOLs.
The demonstrations were attended by alumni representatives from the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, international eVTOL industry professionals, and AutoFlight’s customers and partners. Guests also visited Sunship, the company’s water-based green vertiport on Dianshan Lake, and watched the formation flight from the lakeside.
AutoFlight said the latest achievement advances its capabilities in autonomous multi-aircraft operations and provides a technical foundation for future low-altitude transport networks connecting long-haul, regional and last-mile routes. The company is also exploring the integration of eVTOL aircraft with water-based infrastructure such as Sunship to develop connected air and sea mobility.
