Chinese company Shenzhen Smart Drone (SMD) has started taking orders for an unusual passenger eVTOL that resembles a classic flying saucer. The aircraft was showcased at the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center in Yiwu, China, priced at 800,000 yuan — about $119,000.
Designed for one or two passengers, the model features a disc-shaped body with a transparent panoramic cabin. On SMD’s official website, the manufacturer lists both single-seat and two-seat configurations, with the latter supporting a payload of 75 kg per person.
The aircraft relies on an electric powertrain and vertical takeoff, so it doesn’t require a runway. Six propellers are housed inside duct enclosures within the body, making it safer for people standing nearby on the ground. The manufacturer also claims water takeoff and landing capabilities.
SMD highlights sightseeing flights, aerial tours over landmarks, and entertainment shows as its primary use cases. This explains the aircraft’s unusual design: its eye-catching appearance is just as much a part of the product as its flight capabilities.
About 15 Minutes of Flight Time
For now, these specifications significantly limit where the saucer can be used. A company representative told Chinese outlet Jinhua Daily that the aircraft is designed for roughly 15 minutes of flight, with a typical altitude of around 30 meters. It also supports automated control.
Development began back in 2020. SMD founder Jin Liang previously noted that while the aircraft was structurally designed for altitudes up to roughly 200 meters, the company targeted flights at 30 to 50 meters for sightseeing routes. The body is built using carbon fiber, aviation-grade aluminum alloys, and other composite materials.
The aircraft holds a Special Flight Permit SFP22574 issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China. However, this does not grant permission for unrestricted commercial flights anywhere. Under Chinese aviation regulations, such a permit can be granted to an aircraft without a full airworthiness certificate and specifies strict operational goals and limitations.
Crean en China el primer platillo volador tripulado del mundo
— RT en Español (@ActualidadRT) June 28, 2023
Una empresa china de tecnología desarrolló un platillo volador, apto para ser tripulado y totalmente eléctrico, llamado 'iUFO'. Es una nave diseñada para dos pasajeros. pic.twitter.com/seUnoPpMJj
Commercial interest emerged well before this retail debut. In 2025, SMD signed a preliminary agreement worth nearly 120 million yuan, with the buyer planning to purchase 68 two-seater aircraft and 86 static display models for exhibition sites.
As a result, this flying saucer currently competes with small tourist attractions and scenic flight services rather than cars or helicopters. A 15-minute flight time and operational restrictions position it as a niche eVTOL for parks, resorts, and tourist zones — though visually, the craft is as close as it gets to the sci-fi UFOs of classic movies.
