For several years there have been a couple of parallel slow motion failures in the making, the use of hydrogen in transportation and the Jetsons’ fantasy of air taxis zipping over cities. Neither were based in economic, regulatory, or technical reality, preferring instead to have vast sums of governmental and … [continued]
The inevitable is occurring in the dead end space of Jetsons urban air mobility fantasies. Two more origami rotorcraft have left the vertiport for the great airplane graveyard in the sky as Volocopter disappears and Airbus drops its program. Volocopter was founded in 2011 in Bruchsal, Germany. Initially named e-Volo, … [continued]
One of the leading electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft companies in the world, EHang, recently completed a demo flight of its autonomous (pilot-free) EH216-S, which is capable of carrying human passengers, in downtown Shanghai. “It served as an excellent backdrop to demonstrate the exceptional capabilities in convenience, safety, … [continued]
Over the past few years tens of billions of dollars, enormous numbers of hours of aerospace engineers’ precious time, and countless articles have been wasted on the Jetsons fantasy of quiet, electric, folding aircraft taking off and descending vertically amidst the towers and homes of our cities. Now the US … [continued]
Electric air taxis are not going to take over transportation. In my humble opinion, our skies are not going to be full of small aircraft that look like giant bugs. We won’t have swarms of aircraft risking collision and devastating crashes into buildings. However, I do believe that electric air … [continued]
The eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft space isn’t for everyone. Some people are crazy about it (perhaps too crazy) and others think it’s as much of a dead end as flying cars were in the 1950s. Frankly, I don’t know where I stand, but I’m interested to see … [continued]
In the past couple of years, far too much digital ink and far too many investment dollars have been wasted on origami electric vertical takeoff and landing nonsense. Evtols, especially the ones that fold, are typically rushed prototypes that have no path to certification without US$1.5 billion in funding, a … [continued]
Cynthia just reported yesterday on a couple of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft milestones. We’ve got two more to report on as well — one in China and one in the USA. I’ll start with the story from China. Commercial EHang Flights Now Approved in China! An EHang … [continued]
If you are an urban planner or policy maker engaged with urban air mobility, be aware that the bloom is distinctly off this rose, cut your losses, and pivot to regional air mobility.
Simplicity is the silver bullet of electric rotorcraft.
