5 Best Flying Taxis and Private Flying Cars
Here is a list of our favourite Personal Aircraft — Flying Taxis and Private Flying Cars
Cora
Cora is a self-flying taxi developed by Kitty Hawk, a startup backed by Google’s co-founder and billionaire Larry Page. Cora is an all-electric 12-rotor plane-drone hybrid that can take off vertically like a drone, but then uses a propeller at the back to fly at up to 177km/hr for around 100km at a time. With three independent flight-computers, the plane can self-navigate even if one computer goes down, and in case things really go wrong, there is an emergency parachute to land it safely without using the fans.
SureFly
Manufactured by Workhorse Group, this personal hybrid helicopter is designed perfectly for safe and easy flight. Equipped with 8 independent motors each driving a single carbon fiber propeller, a backup battery power system, and a ballistic emergency parachute, the SureFly provides unparalleled safety for a personal aircraft. With curb weight of 500kg and maximum takeoff weight of 680kg this vehicle can carry a pilot and passenger or pilot and cargo and travel at 113km/h top speed. The electric motors are propelled by dual generators driven by a Gasoline Piston Engine. In the event the generator fails, the Dual Lithium Battery Packs with 7.5 kWh each, will be used for emergency 5 minutes landing. The final product will be able to fly autonomously or manually and targeted to be priced not more than 200,000 USD.
The Lilium Jet
While vertical take-off and landing is not new, a company called Lilium claims to have invented a completely new VTOL aircraft concept for the modern age. Meet the Lilium Jet, an all-electric VTOL jet with 300km range and 300km/h speed. The jet’s whole structure is made from custom built carbon fiber in order to make the jet light. It consists of a rigid winged body with 12 flaps each carrying three electric jet engines. At take-off, all flaps are tilted vertical, so that the engines can lift the aircraft and once airborne, the flaps gradually tilt into a horizontal position, leading the aircraft to accelerate. With a five-seater version in the pipeline, Lilium hopes it can become the Uber of the skies by 2025.
Vahana
Known for being a leader in manufacturing aerospace products, Airbus doesn’t want to be left behind in Flying Taxi race. Introducing Vahana, the Self-Piloted, electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft from A³ by Airbus. It is envisioned being as a cost-comparable replacement for short-range urban transportation like cars or trains. With 8 propellers, 6 horse power motor output and 725kg maximum gross takeoff weight, the aircraft will be able to travel at a speed of 175km/h. The current model can carry 1 passenger but, by 2020 there will also be a 2 passengers model.
The Switchblade
This is a three wheel, street legal sport flying car that you can drive from your garage to a nearby local airport and fly it up to a height of 4km at a speed of 322km/h. With the help of a 190-horse power liquid cooled 1.6-litre V4 engine, at 129 km/h the car will “take-off naturally” once the wings are extended. In order to operate this bad boy, in the ground you will need either an automobile license or a motorcycle license and in the air you will need a private pilot license. It has wide cabin with side-by-side seating for two and room for over 100 pounds of luggage. The vehicle will be available for sale any time from 2018 at $120,000 USD price and you can even pre-order it now without making any deposits.
