Pollution-free air taxi design unveiled

A zero-emissions flying taxi could take to the London skies as soon as 2024, if plans by Vertical Aerospace come to fruition


VA-1X AIR TAXI
Prototype due 2021

Cruising speed: 240km/h

Flight: Rear rotors fold into stowed postion. Undercarriage withdraws. Front propellers tilt for forward motion

Take-off and landing: Rear vertical rotors fan out (see below). Front propellers orientate vertically. Power of eight rotors can lift or lower aircraft

Rear vertical rotors 

Front rotors

Up to four passengers

Luggage hold

How rear rotors unfold
Stowed
Open


Battery-powered air taxi can make 76km central London to Brighton journey in 30 minutes, twice as fast as taking train and four times faster than by car


London
Brighton
20km 12 miles

Car: 2hrs
Train: 1hr


Sources: Bloomberg, Vertical Aerospace, Google Maps 
Picture: Vertical Aerospace 
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