XTI Aircraft TriFan 600 Picks Up Interest & Preorders
Hailed as “the world’s first vertical takeoff airplane,” the XTI Aircraft TriFran 600 is continuing to generate interest in its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) TriFan.
VTOL
Boeing Acquires Aurora Flight Sciences For Autonomous Flights
If you thought autonomous cars were freaking out some older drivers, wait until you hear the one about autonomous flights. Boeing is acquiring Aurora Flight Sciences, a company we mentioned here a little while back. This is throwing serious weight into the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) industry.
Airbus & HAX Open Accelerator Program For Flying Taxis In Shenzen
Aeronautics behemoth Airbus is joining forces with early-stage startups investor HAX to create a new four-month accelerator program aimed at developing the technology to address the various challenges of urban air mobility.
VTOL Personal Drone, Carrying People One (Or Two) At A Time
2017 is the year of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles. So far, we’ve seen a few wild projects and some further in the future ones. Despite battery energy density not being quite there yet for long-distance flights, electric airplanes and drones (and everything in between) are taking off. Today’s drone fad is all the rage and has been thrust into the media with such force that it shouldn’t surprise anyone to find a few companies working on drones capable of flying people, right?
Volocopter Receives €25 Million In Funding For Air Taxi
German company Volocopter has recently received €25m in funding to develop its all-electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle (VTOL). The investment came from Stuttgart-based automobile company Daimler, Berlin-based technology investor Lukasz Gadowski, and a number of other additional investors.
Lilium Brings On Talent From Tesla, Airbus, & Gett To Build On-Demand Air Taxi
Munich-based startup Lilium has made a series of high-profile hires that display the strength of their aspirations and reveal the direction it is headed in. The German company is in the process of developing its all-electric, two-seater VTOL, with a major goal being that it operates as a commercial ‘air taxi’.
Delorean Aerospace Enters the Flying Car Race
The Delorean DR-7 vehicle is being developed by DeLorean Aerospace, the company at which Paul DeLorean is CEO and chief designer. It is planned to be a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTOL) that will have space for two people and be electrically-powered.
Geely Buys Terrafugia & Takes To The Skies
OK, this is probably one of the easiest titles to pull off — “Geely buys Terrafugia and takes to the skies.” The consequences of one of the biggest carmakers in the world continuing its buying spree, this time with a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) startup, are interesting and revealing. China is still very determined to build its transportation industry in order to better compete in the international arena.
EViation Aims To Propel Electric Aviation Forward
In addition to being the year of the Tesla Model 3, 2017 is turning out to be a major year for flying aircraft that are also electric and autonomous. Soaring cars, driving saucers, flying pontoons-bikes, and electric airplanes have broken into the news regularly. Another electric airplane contender from EViation is moving its product past regulations and certifications and hopes to be in active commercial service by 2021, with a prototype next year.
The Evolution of Electric Mobility (#VTOL Animations)
Flying cars, electric airplanes, flying electric cars, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles, and other e-mobility solutions are fascinating. But, essentially, I’m a visual person and I need a visual timeline to put together the pieces.
