Xpeng Motors, a prominent player in the Chinese automotive industry, has achieved a significant milestone in developing its flying car, the “Land Carrier.” The company recently received acceptance of the Type Certificate (TC) application for the flying body (code-named X3-F) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s Central and Southern Region on March 21st. This acceptance indicates that the model is entering the airworthiness certification phase.
The Type Certificate (TC) is an approval of the design of a civil aviation product (including civil aircraft, aircraft engines, or propellers). It is issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to the design organization of civil aviation products by the Civil Aviation Product and Component Certification Regulations (CCAR-21). The TC serves as a document certifying that the civil aviation product developed by the organization complies with the corresponding airworthiness regulations and environmental protection requirements.
The Land Carrier flying car developed by Xpeng Motors consists of the land body and the flying body, which can be automatically separated and combined. Each part will be certified according to the respective aviation and automotive procedures. The TC application acceptance received this time pertains to the flying body, which is the first domestically developed manned all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft targeting individual users. It features a distributed electric propulsion system, meets the safety requirements for single-point failures, and offers manual and automatic driving modes. The aircraft also boasts a panoramic two-seater cockpit with a 270-degree view.
The Land Carrier’s land body is an intelligent driver cabin designed for four to five people. It is equipped with a range-extending electric drive system that can provide multiple recharges to the flying body. The vehicle adopts a three-axis, six-wheel design, enabling 6×6 all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering. This results in excellent load-carrying and off-road capabilities, earning it the “Land Carrier.”
With the acceptance of the TC application for the flying body, Xpeng Motors is progressing closer to realizing its vision of a practical and innovative flying car. This step forward is on the heels of Xpeng’s CEO address the National Congress about EV and flying vehicles two weeks ago. The certification process conducted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China demonstrates the involvement of regulatory authorities in ensuring the design compliance and safety of the product and its components. As Xpeng Motors continues to advance its flying car project, it remains at the forefront of the evolving transportation landscape, pushing the boundaries of innovation in the Chinese automotive industry.
Source: CNSTOCK.COM
