After Everest, DJI Unveils Fixed-Wing Cargo Drone

Mount Everest served as the testing site for the EV50 during a scientific mission carried out for Peking University.

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DJI on Thursday unveiled its first fixed-wing eVTOL cargo drone, the EV50, confirming the aircraft had completed test flights at 8,861 metres (29,072 feet) on Mount Everest in a scientific research mission for Peking University.

With a payload capacity of 50 kg (110 lbs) and a maximum range of 150 km (93 miles) when empty, the EV50 features a compound-wing configuration with eight vertical-lift rotors and three pusher propellers, according to specs published by the manufacturer.

The 7-metre (23-foot) wingspan aircraft has a 270-litre (9.5 cubic-foot) cargo compartment and a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) unloaded.

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The DJI EV50 employs a compound-wing configuration. Eight vertical-lift rotors handle takeoff and landing, while three pusher propellers provide forward thrust during cruise flight. The design allows the aircraft to transition between hover and fixed-wing forward flight, allowing runway-free operation with the cruise dynamics of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. Image: China Business News (CBN).

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According to DJI, the drone conducted 32 takeoffs and landings over 12 days in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve on the north side of Everest, including 12 sorties that carried atmospheric data collection instruments.

The EV50’s electric propulsion system was selected to avoid exhaust emissions and downwash (downward deflection of airflow) that could interfere with precision instruments.

The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 8,861 metres (29,072 feet) and a continuous climb of 3,730 metres (12,238 feet).

The mission marked the first time Peking University researchers had used drones to complete fine-scale observations of atmospheric pollutants in the ultra-high-altitude troposphere, DJI said.

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Working alongside his supervisor, Professor Li Zexiang, a young Wang Tao (Frank Wang) achieved the first drone flight over Everest in 2009. Wang founded DJI in Shenzhen in 2006. (Image: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

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DJI’s drone operations on Everest have evolved from early flight‑control experiments two decades ago to current uses in cargo transport, scientific observation, and waste removal.

During the 2026 climbing season, in partnership with Nepalese drone service provider AirLift, DJI FlyCart 100 carried a total of 10,073 kg (22,207 lbs) of goods between Base Camp and Camp 1.

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DJI FlyCart 100. The company states that its activities on the south side have moved from technical verification to routine operational support, and it intends to continue assisting with material transport and trash clearance in upcoming climbing seasons. Image: DJI

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Of that, 7,215 kg (15,907 lbs) consisted of climbing supplies and 2,858 kg (6,301 lbs) was removed waste.

The one‑way flight took about eight minutes, whereas Sherpas typically require six to eight hours to traverse the same route through the Khumbu Icefall, the developer said.

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Matrice 4E survey drone. Image: DJI

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DJI also reported that its Matrice 4E surveying drone completed centimetre‑resolution 3D modelling of more than 3 square kilometres (1.1 square miles) of the Khumbu Glacier core area in 3.5 hours.

The drone operated at 6,450 metres (21,161 feet) in temperatures below ‑20°C (‑4°F).

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