Xunfei Aviation Wenyu (mock-up)

(Photo credit: Xunfei Aviation)

Wenyu (mock-up)
Xunfei Aviation
China
(website unknown)

The information provided here is as accurate as possible; however, eVTOL information from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or conflicting. China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" — a new push for general aviation — which includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo eVTOL aircraft.

We've found no information online about Xunfei Aviation as of March 2025; however, it was reported the company had a trade show booth at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show in China that took place November 12-17, 2024. The company revealed their Wenyu passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) mock-up aircraft at that air show.

Wenyu passenger eVTOL mock-up aircraft
The Wenyu is a passenger eVTOL mock-up aircraft. The aircraft's design is very similar to a small general aviation aircraft, except it has the capability of vertical takeoff and landing. The aircraft holds four people comfortably including their luggage. The aircraft will either be piloted, flown remotely or flown autonomously. The mock-up aircraft was first revealed to the public at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show.

The aircraft has an estimated cruise speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), has an anticipated range of 300 km (186 m) and has an expected flight time of 70 minutes. The company has calculated the maximum takeoff weight of the aircraft will be 1,600 kg (3,527 lb). There are eight propellers, eight electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The aircraft has three sets of stacked propellers. The front propellers are tilt-props located at each end of the canard wing. The rear stacked propellers are stationary VTOL-only propellers and are located in the rear of the fuselage. The fuselage is made from carbon fiber composite to give the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. The aircraft has one canard wing and one rear main wing. The tail is made of two vertical stabilizers. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

It is important to remember that all concept design aircraft specifications are estimated and can or will change as prototypes and production models are made, tested and flown with real world avionics, components and payloads.

The company plans for the aircraft to have the capability to takeoff and land conventionally or vertically takeoff and land. Wings on any hybrid-electric or electric VTOL aircraft will increase the range of the aircraft. The aircraft can be used for on-demand air taxi service for intercity travel, intracity travel, rural travel, ship-to-shore missions and flying to remote locations.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL mock-up aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot or remote or autonomous
• Capacity: 1 pilot and 3 passengers and their luggage. If remote or autonomous, 4 passengers and their luggage.
• Cruise speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
• Range: 300 km (186 m)
• Flight time: 70 minutes
• Maximum takeoff weight: 1,600 kg (3,527 lb)
• Propellers: 8 propellers (stacked), tilt-props
• Electric motors: 8 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Larger than conventional small aircraft windows
• Wings: 1 canard, 1 rear main wing
• Tail: 2 vertical stabilizers
• Landing gear: Fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.

Resources:

• Xunfei Aviation website is unknown
• Article: A review of 100 Chinese low-altitude economy companies and 35 domestic eVTOL companies!, ChatPlas, Feb. 20, 2025