At Tianzihu Airport in Anji, Zhejiang, the Zhejiang Sofu Aviation Technology SF20V, the first light sport manned hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft in China, successfully completed its maiden flight in rotorcraft mode. This is not only a milestone for Sofu Aviation, but also marks a new stage for China's low-altitude economy and manned aviation technology, laying a solid foundation for the implementation of its core application scenarios. Especially in the four core markets of eVTOL network layout, trainer aircraft application, flight training and cultural tourism, and flight experience, it will take the lead in achieving commercial breakthroughs.

I. First flight moment: Rising with the wind, a testament to strength

Under the watchful eyes of the public, SF20V smoothly lifted off, completing key tasks such as hovering and attitude adjustment. All systems operated stably, marking a successful maiden flight. This maiden flight comprehensively verified its core technology, power system, and flight control performance, laying a solid foundation for subsequent core market applications, network layout, and large-scale implementation.

II. Core Strength: Hybrid + Compound Wing, Adapting to Core Market Demands

As a masterpiece independently developed by Sofu Aviation, SF20V boasts a core advantage of combining oil-electric hybrid power with a compound wing configuration. It perfectly addresses the pain points of short endurance and weak power in pure electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, precisely matching the actual application needs of the current four core markets, and becoming the core competitiveness for its commercialization.

• Power innovation: gasoline-electric hybrid, with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers

Equipped with an advanced hybrid electric system, it relies on the electric motor to deliver precise power during vertical takeoff and landing phases, switching to fuel power during cruise phases to balance flexibility and efficiency. With a maximum design range of 1,200 kilometers and a vertical takeoff and landing endurance of 4.5 hours, it far exceeds the mainstream pure electric models in the industry, completely eliminating "range anxiety". It can not only meet the high-frequency short-haul flight demands of flight training and cultural tourism, but also support cross-regional connectivity between eVTOL outlets.

•Configuration innovation: compound wing design, fully adaptable to core scenarios

Combining the convenience of vertical takeoff and landing of multi-rotor aircraft with the efficiency of cruise flight of fixed-wing aircraft, it requires no dedicated runway and can take off and land on a 30㎡ site, eliminating the need for large-scale site investment. This significantly lowers the threshold for eVTOL network layout, flight training base construction, and cultural tourism experience venues, and can flexibly adapt to full-scenario applications in four core markets.

• Safety first: Multiple redundancies provide reliable protection for market applications

Equipped with a high-safety redundancy design, multiple backups for core systems such as flight control, power, and avionics, and strictly adhering to aviation safety standards, it can provide highly reliable flight support whether used as a trainer for flight training, carrying passengers for cultural tourism and sightseeing, flight experiences, or put into regular operation at eVTOL outlets, meeting the market's core demands for safe operations.

III. Core Applications: Focusing on Four Major Markets and Taking the Lead in Achieving Commercialization

In light of the current low-altitude economic development trend and market demand, SF20V will focus on four core areas: eVTOL network layout, training aircraft, flight training, cultural tourism and sightseeing, as well as flight experience. It aims to create differentiated competitive advantages, facilitate the rapid transformation of technological achievements into market value, and become a pioneer in the commercialization of the low-altitude economy.

eVTOL network layout: Building a convenient low-altitude flight network. Relying on its advantages of "no need for dedicated runways and sufficient endurance", SF20V creates a low-altitude flight network featuring "close takeoff and landing, convenient travel", connecting diverse scenarios such as urban commuting, cultural tourism, and emergency support, laying the foundation for subsequent large-scale operations. At the same time, it leverages industry resources to explore a sustainable model of "network + operation", contributing to the improvement of the low-altitude transportation network.

Training Aircraft and Flight Training: Filling the Market Gap and Supporting Talent Supply. With the rapid development of the low-altitude economy, there is a huge shortage of flight control talents. It is estimated that there will be a shortage of up to one million drone operators, and the supply of professionals in the eVTOL field is even scarcer. The SF20V, with its high safety, easy maneuverability, and stable power performance, can be used as a training aircraft in the flight training market, meeting the training needs for light sport aircraft. At the same time, it is advisable to collaborate with professional training institutions to establish a standardized flight training system that covers the entire process, including theoretical teaching and practical training, to cultivate professionally qualified eVTOL control talents, fill the industry talent gap, and provide talent support for the development of both the company and the industry.

Cultural tourism and flight experience: Leveraging its convenient takeoff and landing capabilities and high safety performance, the SF20V can directly serve the two core scenarios of cultural tourism and flight experience, which are also its key future deployment directions. The preliminary plan will draw on the successful experience of domestic low-altitude cultural tourism integration demonstration projects, collaborate with well-known cultural tourism attractions, and rely on the product characteristics of the SF20V to create a new immersive experience mode of "aerial view of scenic spots". Specific directions include: connecting natural landscapes and cultural landmarks for low-altitude sightseeing, providing normalized flight experience services to the public, allowing consumers to closely experience the charm of low-altitude flight; at the same time, combining the characteristics of scenic spots, launching customized flight experience packages, enriching cultural tourism formats, and facilitating the transformation from "lush green mountains and clear blue waters" to "golden mountains and silver mountains", striving to become a new driving force for the upgrading of the cultural tourism industry.

IV. Technological Autonomy: Suofu Smart Manufacturing, Strengthening Market Competitiveness

From its research and development to its maiden flight, SF20V has consistently adhered to independent innovation, achieving breakthroughs in localization of core technologies and key components. What deserves more attention is that it is affectionately described by pilots in the industry as a vertical version of "Arora", the first domestically produced light sport aircraft in China to receive civil aviation airworthiness certification, the "Arora" SA60L.

Based on the research of the core characteristics of high safety and high maneuverability of the "Arora" SA60L, the core team of Sofu Aviation has overcome multiple technical challenges such as hybrid power matching and compound wing control, achieving a leapfrog upgrade from fixed-wing to vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). Since the project was launched in 2020, the team has completed the entire process of aircraft design, mold manufacturing, and parts processing. The prototype was successfully landed at the end of 2024, and the first test flight was completed in early 2026.

V. Future Outlook: Deeply cultivating core markets and empowering the low-altitude economy

With the gradual liberalization of low-altitude economic policies, manned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are entering a golden era of development. The four core markets that SF20V focuses on are precisely the most promising growth areas in the current low-altitude economy.

In the future, Sofu Aviation will leverage this maiden flight as an opportunity to accelerate the airworthiness certification and mass production of SF20V. Priorities will be given to the deployment of eVTOL network layout, training aircraft, flight training, cultural tourism and sightseeing, and flight experience-related businesses. Simultaneously, products such as the SF60V six-seater aircraft and SF50X hydrogen-powered high-speed aircraft will be introduced to enhance the product matrix.

We will further delve into core markets, build a low-altitude travel ecosystem encompassing "network operation + talent training + cultural tourism experience", and promote the transition of China's low-altitude economy from concept to reality, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the industry.