Boeing carried out the first flight of his sky-high taxi called the NeXt
Only a few years ago, sky-high taxis were only in the realm of dreams. Today, all the major players in the aerospace and automotive industries have their test prototypes of such a means of transporting the future.
Boeing has just performed a successful test of its fully electric and autonomous aircraft type eVTOL with the aptly named Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) and the more resonant NeXt. The company emphasizes that such machines in their flight resemble helicopters, but they have a huge advantage over them when it comes to flights on metropolises. It is thanks to them that the authorities of the largest cities in the world want to solve the problem of expensive and time-consuming transport between city centers and airports as well as key facilities.
A huge attribute of sky-high taxis is a very quiet flight, an electric and fully ecological drive and the ability to efficiently maneuver in urban jungle conditions. They can also take off and land practically from every larger lawn, so they do not require the creation of a special and complicated terrestrial infrastructure in cities.
"In one year, we have moved from a conceptual design to a flying prototype. Boeing's knowledge and experience are key to the development of aviation as the safest and most effective form of transport in the world, and we will be the leader in the new approach to mobility. Autonomy will enable quiet, clean and safe mobility in the city, "said Greg Hyslop, Boeing's Technology Director.
NeXt is 9 meters long, 8.5 meters wide and can take 3 people or 226 kg of cargo on board. Nine electric motors correspond to the drive, eight on both sides of the machine and one on the back. Along with the capacious batteries, the soaring taxi from the Boeing can travel in the air up to 80 kilometers at a speed exceeding 100 km / h. Its charging lasts only 15 minutes.
Boeing has not betrayed yet, when it intends to formally present to customers a fully functional machine and with which company will bind its machine to cities, but it is certain that regular prototype testing will take place throughout 2019, so we can expect new ones information at the earliest next year.
We will see what happens next, and share with you all the details of this incredible technology.