The heavy R6000 convertiplane developed by United Aircraft successfully completed its first free flight on December 28, 2025 in the Sichuan province of China.
The milestone represents a significant advance in the field of rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aviation, as the R6000 according to its developer, it is the world’s first heavy convertiplane.
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The test took place about a month after the prototype made its first takeoff in suspended mode, when the aircraft was grounded during initial system analysis and stability testing. Free flight confirms the maturity of the project and the aircraft’s ability to operate independently without external restrictions.
With a weight of around six tonnes, the R6000 is designed to carry up to two tonnes of cargo. The manned version, currently under development, will be able to accommodate up to ten passengers, which further expands the application possibilities for both special missions and civilian operations.
According to preliminary information, the R6000 will be equipped with the Chinese-developed AES-100 turboprop engine and an intelligent control system to optimize safety, performance and operational efficiency for various mission profiles.
United Aircraft sees the R6000 as a versatile and strategic platform for use in medical airlift, search and rescue operations, patrol, natural disaster response, commercial transportation and air tourism.
The success of the first free flight reinforces China’s ambition to increase its presence in the segment of large vertical takeoff and short landing aircraft.
Source and images: United Aircraft | Global Times, X @globaltimesnews | Avianews, Telegram @AviaCT. The content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editors.
