Airbus's
Silicon Valley-based advanced projects unit A³ has started flight tests with an
autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft that has been designed to
serve as an air taxi for a single passenger.
Called Vahana, the electrically powered aircraft
features eight rotors that are installed on four tilting wings around a
passenger cabin on skids.
Airbus says the “fully self-piloted” aircraft took
off for a first hover flight of 53s on 31 January up to height of 5m (16ft)
“before descending safely”.
Despite the short duration, the test represented a
“great accomplishment in aerospace innovation”, states project executive Zach
Lovering. He adds: “Vahana took a concept sketch on a napkin and built a
full-scale, self-piloted aircraft” that has completed its first flight in “just
under two years”.
(Evangle Luo of TTFLY shared with you)
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