Those who grew up in the 1960s may remember the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon “The Jetsons,” which depicts a near future in which flying cars roam the skies.
While this may sound like pure fantasy, experts in Austria say their new vehicle will hit the skies in just a few months – heralding a new milestone in passenger transport.
CycloTech, an aerospace company based in Linz, has unveiled Blackbird, a flying taxi that uses a futuristic, boat-inspired, all-electric propulsion system.
Blackbird has ‘360 degrees of manoeuvrability’ thanks to a system of rotors that spin round and round like the classic ‘Voith Schneider’ propeller on a ship.
With a length of 4.9 meters and a maximum take-off weight of 340 kg, the aircraft transports two people through the air at a speed of up to 120 km per hour.
Although still in development, Blackbird is expected to be completed by the end of this month, with the first flight of a full prototype scheduled for late March next year.
Later this decade, people could hail an Uber-style trip with Blackbird and be transported over distances much faster than traditional ground-based cars.
Flying taxis like Blackbird could travel through the air virtually without stopping – a blessed relief from the start-stop nature of ground taxi travel.
Blackbird – which is being built by Austrian company CycloTech – carries two people as it flies through the air at a speed of up to 120 km per hour. CycloTech imagines a near future where Blackbird and other flying vehicles transport passengers from their homes
Fans of the classic 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon “The Jetsons” will know that it is set in a comical future where flying cars roam the skies
It’s unclear how much CycloTech has spent on its Blackbird vehicle, although the company secured $21.8m (£17.2m) in funding earlier this year to bring it closer to market.
MailOnline has contacted the company for more information.
As the company’s renders show, Blackbird has six sets of electric rotors that spin in a circle – called ‘cyclorotors’ – inspired by marine propulsion systems.
As they spin, the cyclorotors create an upward thrust powerful enough to launch BlackBird vertically into the air and keep it there.
Additionally, by slightly adjusting the position of each rotor blade, the direction of thrust can be changed, allowing “an easy transition from hover to forward flight.”
“With our Blackbird we demonstrate how this innovative technology will open up the flying car market,” said Hans-Georg Kinsky, CEO of CycloTech.
‘CycloTech is the only company in the world currently engaged in the commercial application of cyclorotors as a primary propulsion system.’
CycloTech says the entire system allows for “precise control in all directions,” including braking and deceleration in the air, as well as parallel parking as it approaches the ground.
Blackbird has six sets of electric rotors that spin in a circle (‘cyclorotors’) – two at the very front, two at the very rear, one just in front of the cockpit and one just behind the cockpit
As they spin, the cyclorotors create an upward force powerful enough to launch BlackBird into the air
Blackbird has ‘360 degrees of manoeuvrability’ thanks to a system of rotors that spin round and round like the classic ‘Voith Schneider’ propeller on a ship (shown here in file photo)
It can even brake suddenly in mid-air, which is still a crucial capability for flying vehicles, even though the airspace will be less cluttered than today’s roads.
The propulsion system also ensures “stability and a high level of passenger comfort,” even in challenging conditions such as high winds and rain.
CycloTech says it chose cyclorotors for its flying vehicle because they “enable the construction of compact aircraft that are half the size of aircraft with propellers or rotors.”
Although Blackbird has six sets of rotors, Kinsky said it could “continue flying in a controlled manner” if one of them failed.
CycloTech’s promotional images also suggest that passengers will be able to enjoy a level of luxury comparable to that of a high-end sports car, while being transported at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
A number of glass gull-wing doors open on either side of the cockpit, similar to those of the iconic DeLorean from ‘Back to the Future’.
Meanwhile, a digital display welcomes passengers and provides important information such as speed and altitude.
Blackbird is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, meaning it can take off directly into the air rather than having to build speed over the ground first, reducing the overall need for runway space.
Although Blackbird has six sets of rotors, Kinsky said he could “continue flying in a controlled manner” if one of them failed
In the near future, Blackbird owners could use the vehicle for their commutes, potentially parking on landing pads at the top of skyscrapers or in special spots on the ground.
The company says: ‘The new BlackBird demonstrator, with a maximum take-off weight of 340kg, is now in development and is expected to be ready by the end of 2024’
In the near future, Blackbird owners could use the vehicle for their commutes, potentially parking on landing pads at the top of skyscrapers or in special spots on the ground.
Alternatively, passengers may be able to hail the plane on their smartphone and pay a fee for a short ride around town, similar to Uber or Lyft.
CycloTech is one of many companies looking to make flying vehicles a reality, including British companies Vertical Aerospace and Bellwether.
Slovakian company KleinVision is working on its AirCar device that looks a bit like a racing car, until the retractable wings come loose.
While in the quirky hybrid vehicle, French musician Jean-Michel Jarre and a pilot traveled about two miles through Slovakia’s Piešťany Airport in ten minutes on April 12 this year.
Meanwhile, Netherlands-based Electron Aviation plans to launch a ‘sky-hailing service’ similar to Uber, which users can book through an app.
Electron Aviation’s fleet of 300 km/h battery-electric air taxis is expected to become a reality in the Netherlands and Great Britain in 2027.