About flying cars say, probably, about 100 years, if not more. At different times they were talked about by science fiction writers, engineers, entrepreneurs. Now this is not only talked about, this idea has already been implemented, and several companies are engaged in the production of flying cars. They are worth a lot, to manage them you need a special permit, plus not for all roads such cars are suitable. Therefore, they have not yet received a special distribution. Soon, we can expect progress in this area. Probably, in a few years not only robotic cars with an autonomous control system will already travel on the roads, but also hybrids of a car and an airplane.
Lilium Jet Company is one of those who develop such vehicles. But its products have differences from all other airmobiles. Namely – a flying machine works on electricity, rather than gasoline or diesel fuel. This vehicle, according to the developers, can make vertical take-off and landing, directly, like a helicopter. Only here there are no screws, like a helicopter. After take-off, an electric aero-car can fly forward at a high speed.
In order to make the flight possible, the developers have equipped this electric vehicle, crossed with a jet of 36 jet engines, placing them on 10-meter wings. Part of the wing with the engines is mobile, and at take-off “looks” into the ground. After Lilium Jet rises air, this part of the wing takes a horizontal position and the plane flies forward.
Now the flying electric vehicle is operated remotely, although the manned flight is also just around the corner. According to the developers of Lilium, their vehicle consumes 90 percent less energy than flying vehicles in the form of drones. For this reason, an electric car with wings can fly about 300 kilometers at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
In general, very good. As for the “electrification” of aircraft, their development is still in its infancy.
Electric cars are also not very common, although they have been produced for a long time. Most electric vehicles have a power reserve of about 450 kilometers. With regard to electric aircraft and Copters, it is rare what systems can gain speed above 130 km / h. And here it is also said about vertical take-off with landing, plus the possibility of flying as much as 300 kilometers.
The developers say that they have a battery installed in their system, which is similar in many respects to the batteries that are installed in Tesla. The difference is that this electric car can fly, and not just ride on the roads, and the energy consumption of it, if you believe the creators, is very low.
In addition to the flight characteristics, the developers from Lilium made many efforts to ensure flight safety. Despite the fact that the company is developing unmanned vehicles, it is planned to create manned aircrafts in the near future. Here, in particular, it is planned to place parachutes for the pilot-driver and passengers. Also, the developers have created a “Flight Envelope Protection System” system, which does not allow the pilot to go beyond the safe piloting regime.
The maximum number of passengers for which a flying electric vehicle is designed is five people. So with the carrying capacity of the device, too, everything is fine. The flights are planned to be implemented not so much in a deserted area, as in urban conditions, dense construction. According to the developers, everything should happen in the following way: a person chooses a place to fly, for example, a tourist attraction, part of the road travels along the road, and a part – flies, landing on the roof of the building (of course, only if there is a landing pad).
The device is designed for middle-class representatives, according to the company’s management, nothing super-expensive is planned. Anyone can use the services of flying transport. The flight will cost much less than, for example, a taxi ride. For example, a 55-minute trip to New York will cost $ 55. And for the owner of an electric plane it’s only $ 6.
All this sounds, of course, a little bit fantastically. An electric car with wings, which can fly 300 kilometers “in one go,” and even within the city? Probably, and this can be, only the majority of people will believe after seeing the videos with the recording of a test flight or they can ride in such a vehicle themselves.
Although … The test flights have already been conducted by the company. Here is a video with test results.
So, the future has already come?
