During the demonstration flight, the AE200 took off in unmanned mode from the Huaizhou Airport in Jintang county, Chengdu, and conducted a test in which its lift/cruise propellers tilted 90 degrees forward from vertical to horizontal, and then back to vertical again.

Previously, the AE200 underwent its maiden airworthiness flight test at the end of last year and completed Phase-2 flight tests for airworthiness technology validation in June.

Fei Lan, Aerofugia's marketing director, said the AE200 will be manned when it officially enters commercial service to ensure safety. However, thanks to its extensive use of intelligent flight technologies, the pilot's workload can be significantly reduced.

"The AE200 will conduct intensive manned test flights next year. We aim to obtain the type certificate by the end of next year," she said, adding that it is expected to begin trial commercial operations in 2026.