China rolls out W5000 prototype – the world’s largest cargo-carrying drone 

Chinese aerospace firm Air White Whale has announced the roll-out of its first fully assembled W5000 unmanned cargo aircraft. Once certified, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will become the world’s largest aircraft in this category, with first deliveries due to begin in 2026. The world’s first large cargo drone made its maiden flight in China in 2017. 

Founded in 2021, Air White Whale is backed by the Changzhou-based Jinlong investment firm. Its management board is made up of former executives from Comac (the Chinese commercial aircraft manufacturer), Airbus China, and GE Aviation. At the unveiling ceremony, Hu Zhendong, the Chairman and CEO of Air White Whale, expressed his confidence in the future of large cargo drones, stating that such aircraft are destined to become a cornerstone of the airfreight transportation industry 

The first W5000 UAV rolled off the company’s production line in the eastern Chinese city of Changzhou on 18 October 2024. The aircraft offers a maximum payload of five tonnes (11,023 lbs) and a maximum take-off weight of 10.8 tonnes (23,809 lbs). The UAV offers a maximum range of 1,615 miles (2,600 km) and can travel at a cruising speed of 284kts (526 kmh). The company has already submitted certification documents to the Chinese regulators and it is planning for the type to enter into commercial service during the second half of 2026. 

Chinese aviation startup Air White Whale has unveiled its first unmanned cargo aircraft, which the company says is the world’s largest transportation drone.The W5000 is a twin-turboprop drone with a payload capacity of 5 tons and an inner cargo space of more than 65 cubic… pic.twitter.com/GH8TKwVSU8— China Focus (@China__Focus) October 22, 2024The W5000, named after its maximum payload in kilograms, features a standard fuselage with a single high-mounted wing and a single vertical stabilizer. The aircraft is powered by a pair of turboprop engines, which local media have reported to be AEP-100 engines produced by the state-owned company Aero Engine Corporation of China. 

• Wingspan: 22.7 meters (74 feet) • Length: 22.9 meters (75 feet) • Cruising Speed: 326.8 mph (526 km/h) • Range: Up to 1,615 miles (2,600 km) • Maximum altitude: 6,000 meters (19,685 ft) • Maximum take-off weight: 10.8 metric tonnes (23,809 lbs) • Maximum load: 5 tonnes 911.023 lbs) • Cargo hold: 65-cubic-meter (2,295-cubic-foot) • Landing gear: Retractable • Compatibility: Compatible with standard general aviation and commercial airports 

The W5000 is being seen by the manufacturer as a unique solution to the growing need for freight-only aircraft, particularly in the Chinese domestic market. With its spacious interior cargo space of over 65 cubic meters, the W5000 is viewed as a potential game-changer that could revolutionize the logistics industry by offering efficient and cost-effective transportation solutions. According to Air White Whale, the W5000 “is compatible with standard cargo pallets, adapts to various loading and unloading methods, and can take off and land at general aviation airports and civil aviation airports”.  

Additionally, the W5000 offers major advantages over conventional cargo aircraft due to its unmanned capability which reduces operating costs substantially. According to the manufacturer, a single ground-based pilot can operate up to five W5000 aircraft at any one time.  

Air White WhaleWhile the company will not be drawn on revealing how many W5000s have been ordered or by whom,  the rollout ceremony held on October 18, 2024, is understood to have been attended by several senior executives from China Post and China Eastern Airlines, as well as various other Chinese logistics and air freight companies. 

Analysts say that, as the aviation landscape continues to evolve over the coming years, the W5000 could potentially represent a major step forward in the logistics arena of global commerce. It’sexpected that the W5000 will be showcased at the upcoming China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, where Air White Whale intends to demonstrate the UAV’s regional capabilities across Southeast and Central Asia, Russia and Japan. 

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