China completes maiden flight of drone capable of carrying 1,000 kg of cargo
China’s Yitong completed the maiden flight of its TP1000 unmanned cargo aircraft on Saturday, March 15, from Laixi Dianbu Airport in Qingdao.
The 3.3-ton twin-engine aircraft is capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg of paid load over distances of 1,000 km, an unusual performance for drones.
According to the company, the TP1000 offers a cargo hold of up to 7 cubic meters. The unmanned turboprop aircraft has a conventional configuration, with high wings and a rectangular fuselage to facilitate the handling of cargo pallets.
https://twitter.com/China24Official/status/1901191624971166085
The TP-1000 is 11 meters long, has a wingspan of 15 meters and is 4.2 meters high. Its top speed is 315 km/h and its service ceiling is 6,000 meters.
The aircraft requires a takeoff distance of 396 meters and a landing distance of 416 meters.
“Beyond cargo transportation, the TP1000, with excellent flight performance, payload capacity, and cost efficiency, allow for quick modifications to support ocean monitoring, scientific research, resource development, and regional infrastructure projects,” said Jin Ge, general manager of Yitong UAV System Co, to the Global Times.
The aircraft has won 30 orders in China and a type certification by the country’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) is expected in 2026.
Yitong has previously flown the TP500, which can carry 500 kg of payload, and is also developing an even larger UAV, the TP2000, which can carry 3,300 kg of payload, has a higher speed (400 km/h) and a service ceiling of 10,000 feet, as well as a range of 2,600 km.
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