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Guangzhou Automobile Group Govy AirJet

Govy AirJet autonomous passenger eVTOL concept design aircraft

 

(Photo credit: Guangzhou Automobile Group, GAC)

Govy AirJet
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
www.gac.com.cn

Founded in 1955, state owned Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC) is currently the fifth largest automobile manufacturer in China with their headquarters in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. The company makes conventional automobile, electric vehicles and charging stations. The company reported in July 2022 that will now be developing flying cars. The company then revealed its passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) prototype aircraft and roadable vehicle for advanced air mobility (AAM) and other mobility solutions on June 26, 2023 at the GAC Tech Day in China. (All images GAC credit.)

On December 18, 2024, the company revealed their Govy AirJet passenger eVTOL aircraft and launched their eVTOL aircraft brand called Govy. The founder of the Govy brand is Su Qingpeng. The name Govy in Chinese is spelled Gaoyu. One the same day, it was announced the GOVE one passenger eVTOL and roadable aircraft was renamed to the Govy AirCar.

Govy AirJet autonomous passenger eVTOL aircraft
The Govy AirJet is an autonomous passenger eVTOL aircraft that was first revealed to the public on December 18, 2024. The aircraft holds three to four passengers and their luggage. In the front of the cabin is a wide glass navigation display. The first row is designed as an open space. The interior seating can change depending upon the configuration needed for those traveling. There is also what is called an adaptive comfort hub on the right side of the cabin which has armrests, cup holders, phone charging, ambient lights and speakers.

The planned cruise speed for the aircraft is 250 km/h (155 mph) and its predicted range with current battery technology is 200 km (124 miles). Current battery technology is expected to fast charge in 30 minutes. The company plans to make their own solid state batteries and expect solid state batteries to give the aircraft a range of 400 km (249 miles).

The aircraft has two electric ducted fans (EDFs) located on each side of the rear fuselage for forward flight and has eight VTOL-only propellers mounted on four booms, the booms are located under the main high wing. The aircraft has large panoramic windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment. Ninety percent of the fuselage is made carbon fiber composite material giving the aircraft a high strength to low weight ratio. In the rear of the aircraft is a V-tail. The aircraft has fixed tricycle wheeled landing gear.

Interior pictures including front navigation screen, adaptive comfort hub (with has armrests, cup holders, phone charging, ambient lights and speakers) and seating.

Interior pictures including front navigation screen, adaptive comfort hub (with has armrests, cup holders, phone charging, ambient lights and speakers) and seating.

There are multiple safety features on the aircraft. There is distributed electric propulsion (DEP) which means there are multiple propellers, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more of these components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. If all VTOL-only propellers fail, the aircraft can land conventionally on a runway or road. 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. There is a triple redundant heterogeneous control system. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight which increases safety by reducing complexity. The aircraft also has an intelligent sensing, decision and obstacle avoidance system using radar and a camera perception system, computing unit and a fusion navigation system.

Future
The company will begin a new technology company to expand their business in the advanced air mobility industry. Company officials have stated in 2025, they intend to start the Govy AirJet airworthiness certification, launch of demonstration operations in select regions in China, layout production lines and open reservations.

By 2027, GAC plans to launch a flying car demonstration operation plan in two to three cities in the Guangdong, Hong Kong and the Macao Greater Bay Area. Short distance travel within 20 km (12 miles) air taxi service will be provided by the multi-rotor flying Govy AirCar eVTOL aircraft while the Govy AirJet will provide air taxi services for travel up to 200 km (124 miles). The sales of the aircraft also are planned to being in 2027.

Covy AirJet front and rear views

Covy AirJet front and rear views

Covy AirJet side view

Covy AirJet side view

Specifications:

  • Aircraft type: Autonomous passenger eVTOL aircraft
  • Piloting: Autonomous
  • Capacity: 3-4 passengers
  • Cruise speed: 250 km/h (155 mph)
  • Range: 200 km (124 miles). With solid state batteries, 400 km (249 miles)
  • Flight time: 40 minutes
  • Empty weight: Unknown
  • Propellers: 8 VTOL-only propellers, 2 electric ducted fans (EDFs)
  • Electric motors: 10 electric motors
  • Power source: Battery packs (In the future, self-developed solid state batteries)
  • Fast charging time: 30 minutes with current battery technology (charging time will probably be faster with solid state batteries)
  • Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
  • Windows: Panoramic wrap around windows allowing forward, left and right visibility for spectacular views with a solid roof above the passenger compartment
  • Wings: 1 main high wing
  • Tail: 1 V-wing
  • 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. The aircraft has no moving surfaces or tilting parts when transitioning from vertical to forward flight and the reverse which increases safety by reducing complexity.

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