Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has just unveiled plans for a winged taxi that could make the 76 kilometer trip in as little as 30 minutes . A model prototype will be completed by September 2021, the company said.
“We know ground-based congestion is already a problem and infrastructure can’t keep up,” said chief executive officer Michael Cervenka. “While none of us would say an aircraft carrying four or five people is the silver bullet to solve all of that, it clearly has a role to play.” Zero-carbon flight is a growing area of focus within aerospace as the industry reckons with pressure to lower emissions while also dealing with the biggest crisis in its history. The weight of the batteries poses a challenge in developing such aircraft, making smaller vehicles such as air taxis more achievable.
Some of the fundraising and development was slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic, but now, Cervenka said, the effort is being relaunched with a short-term target of £30mil . Ultimately, Vertical Aerospace is aiming to raise £150mil .