The eVTOL industry is gaining traction with a focus on air taxis and other urban use cases. Many startups and companies are working on their air taxi designs that could revolutionize urban transportation – if they ever get off the ground financially.
One of them is AIR, creator of personal eVTOLs for the customer market, which has unveiled its debut vehicle, AIR ONE. The AIR ONE is a sporty, easy-to-operate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for personal everyday use.
The new fixed-wing two-person electric aircraft is propelled by eight vertical lift rotors mounted coaxially on four pods extending from the front of the cabin and the twin tail fins. Its sleek-looking cabin pops up to let the pilot and passenger hop in and out. The cabin will have room for two people; both of them have access to the eVTOL’s controls.
There is also a glass bottom so you can see what you’re flying over. Even more impressively, the aircraft has collapsible wings, which will presumably squish this thing down small enough to fit in a garage. It also prioritizes everyday practicality for consumers with its ability to take off from or land on any flat surface.
The AIR ONE offers a flying range of 110 miles (177 km) on a single charge, an endurance of about an hour, and cruise speeds up to 155 mph (250 km/h).
The company is also working on its own “fly by intent” control system, which manages complex functions and navigation, so that usage isn’t restricted to highly skilled pilots and trained professionals. Additional safety features include an AI-enabled monitoring system that does frequent inspections of the vehicle and eliminates checklists for riders to ensure paramount safety, even for riders with minimal training. It’s not yet clear what kind of pilot license you’ll need to fly AIR ONE.
AIR ONE is designed from inception to be a fun, safe, and practical vehicle that adheres to aerospace standards and regulations. AIR is now targeting mass production for these machines and is currently working with the FAA to obtain G1 certification. The company reimagining personal air mobility is now taking preorders for its sporty two-seater vehicle and plans to begin rollout in 2024. Pricing information will be announced in early 2022.
