‘Air taxis’ could take off among commuters
BRITAIN’S first “air taxis” could be operating within four years, a technology company has claimed.
Vertical Aerospace, a Bristol start-up founded in 2016, has built and flown the UK’S first electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
The company said it had ambitions to make personal air travel on-demand and carbon-free. Equipped with four propellers at the front and back of a helicopter-shaped body, the vehicle’s VTOL technology would allow it to travel between exact locations, with- out a pilot having to make diversions to an airport. The company obtained permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to operate the aircraft and flew a test flight in Kemble, Glos, in June.
It is currently capable of a five-minute flight time at a top speed of 50mph.
The start-up said it one day hoped to add autonomous flights and an on-demand service, meaning users could call a flying taxi to their location.