Boeing’s autonomous air taxi completes its first flight

On Tuesday, Boeing’s autonomous air taxi completed its first flight in Manassas, Va. The aircraft takes off and lands vertically (VTOL) but transitions into a horizontal flight path once airborne. A number of other companies, such as Bell, Volocopter, and eHang are developing similar air taxis.

Boeing’s autonomous air taxi

Andrew Tangel writes for the WSJ:

Boeing Co. said its prototype for an autonomous air taxi completed a first test flight…

It’s not clear when such vehicles might enter regular use. The air taxis and the software that runs them would face rounds of testing and signoff from municipal and safety officials. Obtaining such approvals could take years.

Each of the autonomous-taxi vehicles under development generally takes off and lands like a small helicopter that could carrying a handful of passengers.

Boeing said its electric-powered concept demonstrator, designed to have a range of 50 miles, flew for the first time on Tuesday in Manassas, Va. The 30-foot-long, 28-foot-wide aircraft took off, hovered and landed, the company said.

Future tests of the vehicle would attempt forward flight, and a challenging transition phase between vertical and forward flight modes, Boeing said.

“These vehicles are going to start flying around in the next few years,” Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer, said at an air show in July 2018. “I don’t think we’re talking decades.”

You can read the entire article here [paywall].

STAY IN TOUCH!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors and reviews, then follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or sign up for our email newsletter DroneRise, that goes out every weekday morning at 6 am.

Buy your next drone through directly from manufacturers, such as DJI, Parrot, Yuneec or retailers like Amazon, B&H, BestBuy or eBay. By using our links, we will make a small commission, but it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you for helping DroneDJ grow!