Looks like what had been predicted about the flying cars has just been materialized. Not exactly flying cars though but flying taxis are here. Jet Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL), zero-emission, electric Eagle prototype of Lilium Aviation has just completed its first flight, lifting off from Germany. The two seater is currently unmanned and is controlled from ground. Lilium Aviation is also aiming for a manned flight in 2019.
The taxi is jet powered, using 36 electric ducted fans. The motors, in turn, are set on wings and canards having 12 movable flaps, able to direct airflow through its wings.
The energy-effecient device can travel from JFK Airport to Manhattan in just five minutes, and that too with zero local emissions. The flying taxi will cost same as the regular taxi due to its cheaper infrastructure.
“The successful test flight program shows that our ground-breaking technical design works exactly as we envisioned,” says Lilium co-founder and CEO Daniel Wiegand. “We can now turn our focus to designing the five-seater production aircraft.”
Check out the video below for more details.
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