Flying taxi: Electric VTOL jet wants to roll out a fleet of air taxis by 2025

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GERMANY — A German company has successfully conducted its first test flight for its flying aircraft that is a prototype for an air taxi vehicle.

Lilium Aviation’s two-seater flying jet prototype features 36 propellers and runs entirely on electricity — making it emission-free, according to the company’s website.

The aircraft takes off vertically, and accelerates into forward flight with the help of its wing flaps. Its first test flight was conducted in Munich in April. A video recorded by the company shows the jet flying through the air for a few minutes, as a pilot controlled it from the ground.

The plan is to build a fleet of air taxis that can be booked on-demand via smartphone by 2025 — just like Uber, but with flying jets.

With low battery consumption and a cruising speed of up to 300 kilometers per hour, Lilium says travel time will be slashed considerably while keeping costs low, adding that it will be even cheaper than regular taxis.

The company says their first manned flight won’t be too far off, and it wants to create a 5-seater version of its VTOL aircraft.
　
But Lilium is not the only company with visions of a flying taxi future. Uber and a couple of other aviation companies are also developing their own flying vehicles, so the race is on.