FranceVolocopter’s first all-electric large-scale flying taxi has completed its maiden flight, promising to transform urban traffic.
VoloCity flew for the first time over Pontoise airport. Video: Volocopter
VoloCity, a vertical take-off and landing vehicle that looks like a giant drone with 18 rotors, took off from Pontoise airport near Paris, France. In the video shared by Volocopter, the vehicle is as stable as a regular helicopter when hovering above the ground for a minute and gently landing on the grass. The company is aiming to get VoloCity up and running in time to provide passenger service at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Volocopter first revealed the VoloCity design in 2015. Since then, the company has developed numerous prototypes of the vehicle and conducted 1,500 test flights. However, now Volocopter has finalized the final configuration of the flying taxi model. According to the company, this is a completely new design with a new system, fully electric and equipped with 18 rotors. Therefore, they need to interact more with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
VoloCity can carry two people and fly autonomously, remotely or via pilot. The vehicle has a maximum speed of 109 km / h and a range of 35 km, so it is suitable for short flights in urban areas. Although VoloCity has multiple rotors, Volocopter claims the vehicle is four times quieter than a conventional helicopter, resulting in a more comfortable flight.
The company has been licensed to fly in a piloted or unmanned configuration during test flights in cities such as Hamburg, Dubai, Helsinki, and Singapore. French authorities confirmed last year that Paris had begun testing electric flying taxis in preparation for the 2024 Olympics. The ultimate goal is to create at least two routes to ease congestion during the Summer Olympics. . The first route will be between the Paris-Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport and Saint-Cyr airport, while the second will be between Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Le Bourget and Paris airports.
The Pontoise test site is located at Cormeilles-en-Vexin airport, allowing 30 manufacturers to conduct tests. In addition to Volocopter, manufacturers participating in the test flight include Airbus, Vertical Aerospace, Ascendance, Lilium and Joby Aviation. Volocopter hopes that if it succeeds at the Paris Olympics, the company can convince lawmakers in other countries to license urban flying taxis.
An Khang (According to Mail)
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