YIVTOL Named Champion at AOPA China Competition
Local media described the event as the “world’s largest eVTOL competition.”
The inaugural China Electric Ultra-Light Aircraft Competition concluded Friday, May 8, in Hangzhou under the guidance of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and sponsorship of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of China (AOPA China).
Officially titled the First China AOPA “Ai Shang Yun Cup” Electric Ultralight Aircraft Technology Competition, the event was held at the Zhejiang Xuan Yin Liangzhu Aviation Flight Camp in Hangzhou.
The competition was sponsored by AOPA China in partnership with the Beihang University Hangzhou International Innovation Institute, Beijing Aishangyun Flight Technology Co., Ltd. (北京爱尚云飞行技术有限公司), and the Tianmushan Laboratory.
The Tianmushan Laboratory and Zhejiang Xuan Yin Liangzhu Aviation Flight Camp served as organizers. A related forum was held the following day at the Beihang University Hangzhou International Innovation Campus.
Chinese media described the event as the “world’s largest eVTOL competition.”
Shenzhen Yingwu Intelligent Technology — known as YIVTOL — announced it had won the championship title.
The competition featured a two-stage knockout format.
In the first stage, all teams completed a timed obstacle-based performance race. The top six performing aircraft advanced to a second stage, which consisted of a long-distance crewed flight challenge.
YIVTOL stated that more than a dozen teams and research institutions took part.
Following multiple rounds of evaluation, the company said it achieved a perfect score and was the only team to receive zero penalties across all cycles while placing first in each round.
YIVTOL added that competition judges cited the company’s performance in powertrain efficiency, flight stability, and lightweight structural design.
A second edition of the competition is planned for 2027 in Portugal.
YIVTOL is developing the S-Zero, a single-seat ultralight eVTOL aircraft, and has also announced a fourth-generation model, the S-One, featuring a four-ducted-fan propulsion system and an autonomous flight-management system.
Both models share a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43.5 mph), a 30-minute flight duration, a 35-kilometer (21.7-mile) range, and a 100-kilogram (220 lb) payload limit.
See “YIVTOL Marks Industry First With China Ultralight EVTOL Flight Permit” in Aviation Week.
See "Chinese Start-up Offers Ultralight Personal eVTOL Aircraft" in Aviation International News.
In February, YIVTOL announced an integrated insurance solution for the S-Zero, combining airframe coverage, third-party liability, and passenger protection within a single framework.
Earlier this month, the company was among those that signed agreements to participate in the Shenwan Future Transportation Port project in Futian District, Shenzhen.
