(Courtesy AIREV)
Everyone who has found themselves stuck in a traffic jam at one point or another has had the wish that they could just lift-off the ground and fly themselves over the snarl. Amazingly, within a few years, that dream could become a reality.
According to The Jerusalem Post, an Israeli startup has succeeded in developing an electrical vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL). That is to say, a flying car. Though it is not yet available to the public, it is gaining steam, and almost ready for take-off.
Two Seater eVtol
AIREV is a relatively small startup. Founded in 2018, in Pardes Hanna-Karkur, it is made up of only 60 people. The products it produces however, are not small in terms of impact. Its flagship model, the AIR One, is a two-seater eVTOL. It has a range of about 100 kilometers and can fly about one hour on a single charge. The aircraft has eight fixed motors and can take off like a helicopter before transitioning into standard airplane flight. In addition, it comes with foldable wings, making it possible to park the vehicle in a fairly standard garage.
And so it seems, very soon, people may be able to fulfill the dream of simply taking their flying car to do their errands. “Humans have always wanted to fly like a bird... to move through the air and incorporate it into our lives,” Rani Plaut, the CEO of AIREV, told the Jerusalem Post.
Safety First
According to The Media Line, one of the company’s first priorities is safety. Those eight motors, mentioned above, are there for a reason. Redundancy is key. Four batteries power the motors, with each battery powering opposite motors. This means that the aircraft can lose up to half its motors or propellers and still remain in the air. In addition, if the pilot is in a precarious situation, the aircraft will land itself. And, if for some reason, that does not occur, the aircraft is fitted with a parachute that can gently bring the whole vehicle safely down to the ground.
For now, AIREV is still waiting for certification from the FAA, but there is already a waiting list made up of mostly private individuals for about 2,600 aircraft in the United States alone. So as soon as the certification comes through, flying cars will be ready for take-off.
Flying cars may seem like something out of science fiction, but the truth is, as The Media Line notes, once upon a time cars seemed like something fanciful as well. And now, no one balks at the 1.5 ton vehicles speeding down roads. It’s just part of life. One day soon, commuting to work by flying car may be as commonplace as driving down the highway.
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