(Photo source: CnEVPost)

Chinese J-10 fighter jet expert Zhang Wenjin has joined Xpeng Huitian, the flying car division of Xpeng Motors, the company announced on Friday.

Zhang will be the business' chief expert on vehicle reliability and will provide forward-thinking strategic guidance on research and development, innovative talent development and other aspects of science and technology, the company said.

(Photo source: Xpeng Huitian)

Zhang was previously a professor at Beihang University, previously known as Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he taught and conducted research in reliability systems engineering.

He had chaired the aviation assurance system for the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, the Hainan launch site, and the reliability analysis project for high-speed rail rolling stock, and participated in major model planning and review for AVIC.

Zhang has served as the reliability expert of Long March 5 launch vehicle, reliability engineer of J-10, deputy chief engineer of medium and high altitude long-endurance UAV model reliability, and deputy chief engineer of Z-20 helicopter model reliability.

(Photo source: Xpeng Huitian)

In 2017, Zhang was awarded the title of "Outstanding Contributor to the First Flight of Long March 5B Heavy-lift Rocket".

In 2018, he became a core member of the "Defense Science and Technology Innovation Team" for advanced aviation equipment fault diagnosis, prediction and health management.

"The addition of Professor Zhang is of great significance to the development of our core technology, scientific and technological strength, and talent training in the field of flying vehicles," said Xpeng Huitian.

Xpeng Huitian aims to create intelligent electric flying cars and provide solutions for human urban three-dimensional transportation in areas including urban air transportation, tourism, emergency rescue and police patrol.

Xpeng Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng announced on July 16 via Weibo the release of Xpeng Huitian's fifth-generation flying vehicle, the X2. "This marks another step closer to a more widely used and safe flying car," he stated.

The X2 weighs 360 kg and has a maximum takeoff weight of 560 kg. It has a range of 35 minutes and can fly at speeds of up to 130 km/h.

The X2 has autonomous flight path planning capabilities, and through multiple sensors, the X2 can monitor the ground, return to land on its own, and communicate in real-time over 100km in both directions.