On February 1, the Rainbow YH-1000S, the world’s first hybrid unmanned cargo aircraft, completed its maiden flight in Liangping District of Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality. The aircraft was developed by China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics, a R&D institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The Rainbow YH-1000S is an upgraded version of Rainbow YH-1000, which first flew in May, 2025. The new aircraft is designed to adapt to the rapidly evolving demands of global customers. Equipped with a high-power hybrid engine jointly made by the institute and a leading Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer, the new aircraft can take off and land in a much shorter distance, carry heavier payloads and travel farther. It has successfully completed its airworthiness verification. (....)