The large unmanned aircraft industrial base of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in Harbin's Pingfang district will produce components and composites for the world's first 6-metric-ton tiltrotor aircraft, the R6000 United Aircraft.
 
This groundbreaking aircraft was unveiled by UAC at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on Nov 13.
 
Designed for long-distance point-to-point transport, the R6000 United Aircraft can operate unmanned while carrying passengers and transport up to 2 tons of cargo over thousands of kilometers. It is set to revolutionize global travel and logistics.
 
Tian Gangyin, chairman and CEO of UAC, said that the tiltrotor aircraft can take off and land like a helicopter, requiring minimal space, and it can even perform vertical takeoff and landing in tight areas.
During flight, the rotors tilt to enable fixed-wing mode, achieving a high-speed cruise of 550 km/h and overcoming the speed limitations of helicopters.
 
The aircraft combines the advantages of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, eliminating the need for airport runways and reducing dependency on infrastructure. With a maximum range of 4,000 km, it offers vast potential for high-value cargo transport, business travel, and emergency rescue operations.
 
Addressing safety concerns about unmanned piloting with passengers, Tian noted that the aircraft features an optical redundancy flight control system with intelligent sensing and decision-making capabilities, ensuring civil aviation-level safety. Certification for airworthiness will begin in 2025 to ensure the safety of passengers and cargo.
 
Meanwhile, the aircraft is equipped with anti-icing, lightning protection, and crash prevention features. Key components like rotor blades, wings and air intakes have de-icing systems to ensure operation in adverse weather, including continuous flight in moderate rain and resistance to winds up to force 8.
 
The aircraft's structure and onboard equipment are designed with lightning protection and aerial discharge capabilities.
 
Additionally, it is fitted with a whole-aircraft parachute and shock-absorbing airbags for emergency landings to safeguard passenger safety.