Flying taxi coming soon: Lilium Jet announces the first successful test flight
The ‘Jetsons’ fantasy world of flying taxi is turning real soon, as the global air taxis market is expected to reach USD 80.50 billion by 2030, growing yearly at 8.32% (CAGR) from 2017-2030
The arena of human transportation has been marked by several iconic innovations, and Lilium Jet, a German startup aims to carve its own position in the industry.
The main key players planning to get on the air mobility market as soon as possible are the road transportation services Uber and Helbiz, followed by prominent aircraft producers like Boeing and Airbus in partnership with Audi.
Innovations in the air mobility sector are set to reduce airport congestion, providing flexibility on time and travel location, offering cost benefits to consumers.
“We believe in a world where anyone can fly anywhere, anytime. That world has never been closer”, Daniel Wiegand, Co-Founder & CEO of Lilium. It has recently unveiled an air taxi prototype that completed its successful inaugural test flight earlier in May 2019.
Check the video below to see the first time the vehicle took off.
The aircraft is a five-seater electric jet that takes off and lands vertically, with a range of 300 km and a top speed of 300 km per hour.
Instead of aiming at private ownership, future passengers of Lilium jet will be able to board an air cab from nearby landing pads through a mobile app in a similar way to current ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber. The air transportation service by Lilium is expected to be fully operational in prominent urban cities by 2025.
This vertical landing and take-off taxi is powered by 36 electric engines, which condemn extra engine noise and ensure low vibration for a smooth journey.
The Lilium Jet is the first fully electric aircraft to be used for commercial purposes with zero pollution emissions.
