Airbus' self-piloted 'flying car' just passed its first flight test
Aerospace giant Airbus has announced the first successful flight of its self-piloted "flying car." Two years on from the launch of the "Vahana" project, a full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft reportedly reached a height of 16 feet before landing safely at a site in Pendleton, Oregon.
From article, (Aerospace giant Airbus has announced the first successful flight of its self-piloted "flying car."
Two years on from the launch of the "Vahana" project, a full-scale electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft reportedly reached a height of 16 feet before landing safely at a site in Pendleton, Oregon.
Airbus said the flight took place Wednesday and lasted 53 seconds. A second flight took place Thursday.
"In just under two years, Vahana took a concept sketch on a napkin and built a full-scale, self-piloted aircraft that has successfully completed its first flight," said Zach Lovering, Vahana's project executive, in a press release Friday.
The VTOL is being developed at "A³," the Silicon Valley outpost of Airbus. The explicit aim is to provide commuters with a self-piloted craft that is cost-comparable to using a car or a train.
The Vahana team had previously said it was aiming for speeds as much as four-times faster than road traffic, with a flight range of about 50 miles.
Airbus said the VTOL could in future also perform as a cargo delivery platform, ambulance, search and rescue device or taxi.)
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