A Singapore-based company has unveiled a single-seat flying vehicle that it hopes could be used for door-to-door transportation in urban areas when it’s launched within the United States. A private aircraft called Crimson S8 is scheduled to launch in California late next 12 months, Neo Aeronautics said. It is not going to be launched in Singapore as a result of local regulations.
The vehicle is currently undergoing internal tests without an operator on board in Loyang. Neo Aeronautics intends to enhance the model and conduct outdoor tests soon.
The Crimson S8 matches into a normal car parking zone, takes off and lands vertically, can fly at a minimum height of 15 m with a maximum speed of 100 km/h and carry a payload of as much as 100 kg.
Associate Professor Neo Kok Beng, CEO and founding father of Neo Aeronautics, said which means when fully operational, it is going to find a way to fly over double-decker buses and expressways, carrying the load of a median American. or Singaporean.
However, he added that the corporate plans to release the vehicle once it is prepared only within the United States, as Singapore regulations don’t allow the use of non-public aircraft in open spaces.
In the US, they could be flown in suburban residential areas, while densely populated urban areas are out of reach.
This makes the Crimson S8 perfect for commuting to work or to the closest supermarket, said Asst. Prof. Neo. If a user flies the Crimson S8 outside of authorized zones, geofencing technologies will routinely force the vehicle to land.
Neo Aeronautics hopes to have 1,000 Crimson S8s in 25 cities by 2025, enabling 50 million trips per 12 months.
The flying automobile was developed as an “ultralight vehicle” under U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations in order that anyone could use it, said Asst. prof. Neo. Under US law, operators of ultralight vehicles will not be required to have a pilot’s license. There are also no age or experience requirements.
However, the corporate is considering only allowing people 16 and older to pilot the Crimson S8 and plans to require users to take part in simulations and short training sessions lasting one to 2 hours.
The Crimson S8 development model can fly for about 20 minutes, however the four-person team behind the project plans to increase that point to between 30 and 100 minutes using a hybrid generator.
Assoc Prof. Neo said the associated fee of using the Crimson S8 can be comparable to a taxi ride within the U.S., where the fare can be about $50 per 30 km.
The development of flying vehicles has accelerated around the globe.
German aerospace startup Volocopter intends to conduct a series of urban flight tests of its air taxis in Singapore later this 12 months. The company’s air taxi resembles a helicopter, but relies on drone technology and might transport two people over a distance of about 30 km. It was designed specifically for inner-city missions and might carry 160 kg.
Meanwhile, aerospace giant Boeing said in January that its “flying automobile” prototype had made its first successful test flight outside Washington. It is designed for fully autonomous flight from take-off to landing, with a spread of as much as 80 km.
Source: Malay Post | Times of the Strait
