If your idea of the perfect flight involves sitting in a chair surrounded by numerous spinning blades, the E-volo has just what you’re looking for. The company’s prototype Multicopter might not be pretty but it does get the job done.
After completing several unmanned test flight, E-volo’s Thomas Senkel buckled himself into the chair at the center of the frame, grabbed the joystick, and took off for a flight that lasted one minute and thirty seconds. That might not seem like a long time but the short flight was no accident, according to CNN.
“It could go longer,” said E-volo’s Alexander Zosel. “But for safety, we decided before the takeoff to fly for one minute 30 seconds.”
The Multicopter, powered by lithium batteries and sixteen small rotor blades, can carry approximately 80kg (176 pounds), which happens to be about how much the flying machine weighs.
According to Zosel, the Multicopter has what it takes to become “a widespread form of personal transport,” and E-volo envisions a variety of uses for the craft, including air taxi and search-and-rescue missions.
Check out the video and decide for yourself. There’s no doubt the Multicopter is a diamond in the rough at the moment, but could we really be looking at the transportation of tomorrow?
The first manned flight with an electric vertical take-off and landing multicopter (eVTOL) was performed by Volocopter. The flight lasted 90 seconds, after which the pilot Thomas Senkel stated “The flight characteristics are good natured. Without any steering input it would just hover there on the spot.” The flight, which is a Guiness World Record, was performed on October 21st in 2011.
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2 Comments
Looks like a great way to travel…and the inclusion of the space hopper is inspired!
LOL I agree. The hopper was a nice touch.