I noticed a flurry of videos recently showing test flights of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The three vehicles spotlighted below have sizable wings to enable longer range flights compared to eVTOL models intended for intra-city hops. Note that “longer” refers to a 100-250 km range. So they are applicable to inter-city transport … Continue reading Tech: Test flights of eVTOL air taxis →

*** Fly Astro is developing Elroy (previously called “Passenger Drone”), another electrically powered Vertical-Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicle making flight look easy: More at Transport Canada grants Astro Aerospace SFOC for flight testing of their passenger drone, “Elroy”. OTC Markets:ASDN. *** Latest video for CityHawk from Metro Skyways and Urban Aero: More at CityHawk eVTOL flying car entering “full-scale development” – New … Continue reading Sci-Tech: Videos of Fly Astro Elroy and Metro Skyways CityHawk VTOL vehicles →

The BlackFly vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) craft is not a concept but has actually flown over “1,000+ flights and 10,000+ miles”: The Silicon Valley based company Opener has been developing the vehicle since 2011. BlackFly is simple to master and requires no formal licensing (in USA) or special skills to operate safely. Though BlackFly has full amphibious … Continue reading Sci-Tech: VTOL vehicles from Opener, Kitty Hawk, and Aston Martin →

Uber Elevate is Uber’s program to support development of electric powered flying taxis that take off and land vertically. The second Uber Elevate Summit was held this week in Los Angeles and companies from around the world presented the status and plans for the vehicles. Infrastructure, regulatory issues, battery technology, electric power supply, and other issues surrounding … Continue reading Sci-Tech Videos: Uber Elevate Summit 2018 – Latest on eVTOL flying taxi technology →

And now Uber unveils its prototype electric vertical takoff and and landing (eVTOL) vehicle for a flying taxi service that it will begin testing in Dallas and Dubai in 2020. The vehicle is being developed in partnership with Aurora Flight Sciences, Bell Helicopter, and Embraer. Announcements from the companies: Uber Elevate – Bell Helicopter Aurora Unveils … Continue reading Sci-Tech: Uber unveils electric VTOL flying taxi service to start in 2020 →