Recently, the first prototype (AC101) of Volant Aircraft’s VE25-100 "Tianxing" successfully completed its maiden unprotected free flight in Zigong, Sichuan, marking the official entry of this eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft into the engineering development flight test phase. This milestone lays a critical foundation for airworthiness certification and future commercial operations.

The VE25-100, developed by Shanghai Volant Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., is a medium-to-short-range commercial passenger and cargo aircraft. It adopts a compound wing configuration and features a full-state control system enabling simplified operations with longitudinal stick control for altitude and lateral stick control for steering. The propulsion system supports a range of 200–400 km on a single charge, meeting the demands of intercity transportation. With a cabin volume of 2.3 cubic meters, it allows for rapid configuration switching between stretcher placement and cargo transport.

The aircraft boasts a cruising speed of 235 km/h and accommodates one pilot plus five passengers or 500 kg of commercial payload. It is designed for applications such as urban and intercity commuting, business travel, emergency rescue, and aerial logistics. Further flight tests will be conducted to ensure the safety and performance of future mass-produced models.

In this milestone achievement, ZT Technology Co., Ltd. provided an advanced vibration control solution for the aircraft through its independently developed power system vibration damping device, significantly enhancing flight safety and passenger comfort.

Innovative Vibration Damping Technology Tackles Industry Challenges

As a core enabler of the low-altitude economy, eVTOLs face significant vibration challenges. Excessive vibration not only risks structural damage but also threatens the reliability of critical subsystems such as avionics, flight control, and optoelectronic systems. Particularly at the connection points between wings and motor mounts, excessive vibration can lead to structural cracks, necessitating effective damping solutions.

Traditional vibration damping solutions fall short in addressing multi-directional vibration suppression, lightweight design, and broadband damping. To overcome these industry pain points, ZT Technology developed an innovative power system vibration damping device for the VE25-100, employing a rubber-metal composite structure and multi-directional load-bearing design to successfully resolve multiple technical challenges. This breakthrough solution not only addresses current eVTOL development hurdles but also provides robust technical support for the evolution of urban air mobility and the sustainable growth of the low-altitude economy.

Multi-directional Vibration Control: A unique anti-torsion design enables vibration damping under high torque conditions, simultaneously absorbing axial and radial vibrations while reducing noise. The system automatically resets under torque conditions to prevent structural collisions.

Broadband Vibration Isolation: Based on a static-dynamic coupled simulation model, stiffness and damping parameters are optimized to isolate high-frequency motor vibrations and extend the fatigue life of critical components.

Lightweight and High Reliability: The combination of aluminum alloy bases and high-performance rubber materials reduces weight compared to traditional solutions. Anti-loosening bolts, positioning pins, and interchangeable designs simplify maintenance, meeting stringent aviation standards.

Structural Innovation: The damping system consists of a damping base, rubber components, sleeves, and anti-loosening fasteners. Pre-compression adjustment adapts to different motor loads, while interchangeable rubber components enhance installation efficiency.

Material Breakthrough: The rubber elements of the damping system utilize ZT Technology’s proprietary high-performance rubber material. By optimizing vulcanization, reinforcement, and anti-mold systems, the material exhibits superior resistance to humidity, salt spray, acidic atmospheres, and mold. It has passed rigorous environmental tests, including 84-day enhanced mold exposure and GJB salt spray/humidity tests, demonstrating exceptional damping performance and environmental adaptability. The material has been successfully applied in aviation dampers and engine vibration isolators.

Driving Sustainable Development of the Low-Altitude Economy

ZT Technology’s vibration damping technology effectively resolves the vibration issues plaguing the eVTOL industry while providing core support for future large-scale applications.

As the global low-altitude economy accelerates, eVTOLs continue to unlock potential in urban transportation, emergency rescue, and other scenarios. ZT Technology remains committed to advancing aviation vibration damping technology, driving the upgrade of China’s aviation industry chain through innovation, and delivering safer, greener air travel experiences for global users.