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China's domestically developed rotary engine successfully completes its first high-altitude flight, igniting powerful momentum for the burgeoning low-altitude economy.

—— Zhongke Dynamics ZKQ301F Engine-equipped drone completes full-process verification

8 Month 2 Today, exciting news arrived from the airspace where Yunnan Shilin Airport conducted its test flights: Shaanxi Zhongkeyuantai Power Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Zhongke Power"), which has independently developed ZKQ301F A major breakthrough has been achieved in aviation rotor engines, with the engine now equipped on the Junying aircraft. JY5T Fixed-wing aircraft, in 2000 Miyi Plateau Airport successfully completed its maiden flight, demonstrating stable operation, powerful performance, and rapid responsiveness. ECU High-altitude adaptive technology and engine ground telemetry technology effectively ensure engine performance.

This test flight achieved full compliance with all performance metrics, marking a significant breakthrough for China in the field of small aviation propulsion systems. At the test site, the drone equipped with this engine soared smoothly against the backdrop of clear blue skies and fluffy white clouds. Key parameters such as flight altitude, endurance, and power output all met the requirements outlined in the flight plan, successfully completing the mission as scheduled.

1. Soaring to new heights—there’s immense potential in the vast, open world.

The rotor engine tested this time was developed over several years by the Zhongke Power team. 37kW Tiered air-cooled rotary engines. The triangular rotary engine, with its advantages of fewer parts, simple design, and high power-to-weight ratio, is widely used in small to medium-sized UAV engines—but has long been constrained by foreign technology monopolies and export restrictions.

During the test flight, the drone successfully completed a variety of tests, including takeoff and landing, cruising, rapid acceleration, and continuous climb maneuvers. "From liftoff to touchdown, the engine operated smoothly throughout, with minimal noise and vibration," said on-site monitoring data. Additionally, the engine maintained highly efficient combustion even at high RPMs, showing no signs of overheating or sealing failures. The test flight data also indicated that the engine performed exceptionally well at high altitudes. 2000 Even in high-altitude environments, the engine maintains stable performance, with cruising fuel consumption lower than that of comparable-power two-stroke piston engines. 20% , Enhanced overall flight endurance 30% , perfectly meeting the low-altitude operation needs in Yunnan's complex terrain.

After the test flight, experts from the Yunnan Provincial Civil Aviation Administration stated: "This marks the first time a domestically produced rotary engine has successfully completed full-process verification under plateau conditions, laying a solid foundation for its future large-scale application."

II. Seizing Cities and Fortresses: Industry-R&D Collaboration to Eliminate the "Root Cause"

The Zhongke Dynamics R&D team is led by experts from universities including Northwestern Polytechnical University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, who have teamed up with the Institute of Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to overcome several core technological challenges. Specifically addressing the long-standing issues of rotor engine gas seal wear and combustion efficiency, the team has made significant advancements in manufacturing processes, material engineering, and coating technologies. ECU Over 100 innovative advancements have been made in electronic control technology, systematically addressing existing challenges and significantly enhancing both engine lifespan and combustion efficiency.

The engine has gone through five generations of prototype iterations, with the engine body itself… ECU The control unit and the high-precision mechanical lubrication system have been fully domestically produced. Currently, the engine has already secured multiple invention patents, with a localization rate of key components reaching… 100% ,彻底打破了国外的技术垄断.

3. Seize the momentum and lead the way—prioritizing the driving force behind the low-altitude economy

This inaugural flight was chosen to take place in Kunming precisely because of the region's advantageous policies for pioneering and testing the low-altitude economy. As the nation’s first pilot province for comprehensive low-altitude airspace management reform, Yunnan has already established a province-wide intelligent low-altitude information network and is currently planning further developments in this area. 2025 A new general aviation airport was added last year. 10 One, with over take-off and landing points 100 One. Kunming City has further set a "three-year" benchmark 300 "Million-unit" commitment: focusing on nurturing drone logistics, aviation tourism, and more 50 A use case.

"The rotor engine's high reliability and long endurance perfectly align with the needs of mountainous-region logistics delivery, power grid inspections, and other applications," said a relevant official from Yunnan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology. Looking ahead, the department plans to encourage Zhongke Power to collaborate with local enterprises in developing innovative low-altitude aircraft solutions for a wide range of uses, including tourism, material delivery, resource exploration, and geographic information gathering.

4. A steadfast pillar, powering dynamic momentum in the low-altitude realm

Compared to traditional piston engines, the rotary engine's compact design and high power density make it an ideal power source for industrial-grade drones. For instance, 200 Take the kilogram-class drone as an example; after being equipped with this engine, its endurance can increase from 8 Hours extended to 13 Hours, enhanced load capacity 40%。

Currently, Zhongke Dynamics has reached cooperation intentions with several major OEMs and plans to 2026 Launched years ago 37kW Advanced heavy-oil rotary engines and hybrid oil-electric powertrains, further expanding coverage 500 The market for drones weighing under one kilogram.

“Our company’s next goal is to ‘scale up’ and ‘scale down.’ On one hand, we’re leveraging our existing heavy-oil rotary engine technology to develop a high-power, high power-to-weight-ratio heavy-oil rotary aircraft engine tailored for general aviation. On the other hand, we’re exploring opportunities in clean fuels like methanol and hydrogen to create engines that meet the urgent demand for eco-friendly propulsion systems in the burgeoning low-altitude economy.” The company’s founder, CEO Shi, revealed that the team is collaborating with a leading domestic R&D center to accelerate the expansion into international markets.

In conclusion, though the journey begins modestly, the sky's the limit—and the future holds limitless possibilities.

"Clouds mark the beginning, and a journey of ten thousand miles lies ahead. This inaugural flight is not only a milestone for Zhongke Dynamics, signaling a critical step forward in the company’s expertise in rotary engines and control technologies—and laying a solid foundation for applications such as long-endurance aircraft, low-altitude vehicles, and attack drones—but also a significant symbol of China’s burgeoning low-altitude economy. As reforms in low-altitude airspace continue to deepen and domestically developed propulsion technologies mature, an era of 'airborne logistics' is steadily taking shape." + Air travel + A trillion-dollar industry centered around "emergency rescue" is rapidly emerging. As Yin, the chief commander of the test flight, put it: "Our engines must not only fly high—they need to fly steadily, giving China's low-altitude economy a powerful 'heart'." (End)