The world's first all-electric, jet-powered five-seat air taxi just passed its first test.
German manufacturer Lilium successfully completed a maiden voyage with what it hopes will revolutionize air travel with its Lilium Jet, an on-demand air taxi service set to launch by 2025.
The jet is very much in the prototype stages but the company was thrilled with the results after having designed a two-seat configuration two years ago.
"Today we are taking another huge step towards making urban air mobility a reality. In less than two years we have been able to design, build and successfully fly an aircraft that will serve as our template for mass production. Moving from two to five seats was always our ambition as it enables us to open up the skies to many more travelers," Lilium co-founder and CEO Daniel Wiegand said in a statement. "The Lilium Jet itself is beautiful and we were thrilled to see it take to the skies for the first time. With the perfect balance of range and speed, our aircraft has the potential to positively impact the way people choose to live and travel, all over the world."
The Lilium Jet can travel up to 300 kilometers - about 185 miles - in 60 minutes. It has 36 all-electric jet engines that allow it to take-off and land vertically, and travel horizontally. It has no tail, rudder, propellers or gearbox.
Consumers would be able to order a Lilium Jet via an app on their phones and then head to the nearest proposed landing pad to pick up their taxi. Manufacturers say passengers can then choose from a series of pads across a city or region in which to travel to, faster than a helicopter.
"While a maiden flight is always a moment of truth for a business, the Lilium Jet performed exactly as expected and responded well to our inputs," Leandro Bigarella, Head of Flight Test, said. "Our flight test program will now continue with increasingly complex maneuvers as we look toward our next big goal of achieving transition flight, which is when the aircraft moves seamlessly from vertical to horizontal flight."
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