American and Virgin will deliver their passengers from the airport to the city on special flying taxis: what are they like

American Airlines and Virgin want to use flying taxis to carry 4 passengers on 30-minute flights between airports and cities, reports Insider.

Photo: IStock

Flying taxis, once the stuff of science fiction, may very soon become a reality as major aircraft manufacturers, airlines and startups pour millions into developing their own versions of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

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The VX4, an eVTOL being developed by British startup Vertical Aerospace, has proved particularly popular, receiving pre-orders from American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a number of helicopter firms, private jet companies and hotel operators, despite not yet being certified. .

The company unveiled its first full scale mock-up of the VX4 at the Farnborough International Air Show in July.
The mockup can't fly, but it does give customers and their future passengers an idea of ​​what flying in the cabin might feel like, Eduardo Dominguez Puerta, commercial director of Vertical Aerospace, said in an interview.

Puerta said the company wants to provide passengers with a "premium experience with a big element of novelty."

Most flights are likely to last between 15 minutes and half an hour, Puerta said. Airlines such as American plan to use the aircraft for transfers between transport hubs and nearby urban areas, Puerta said.

VX4 will be able to accommodate four passengers and one pilot. The cabin, 1,9 meters long and 1,6 meters wide, was quite spacious, with plenty of legroom, according to people who have been inside the technical innovation.

The VX4 has ample storage space for bags under the seats as well as in the cargo area behind the cab.

One advantage of all-electric eVTOLs is that they will be more energy efficient to operate than vehicles such as helicopters. The mockup has a screen in the cabin that informs passengers about the total carbon emissions of their trips.

To feel comfortable, passengers will be able to adjust the temperature and lighting using the controls on the armrest.

Puerta said "large windows" will be one of the features the company hopes to include in the final certified production model. “Many customers tell us that the best in-flight entertainment system would be a window. Because looking at cities and looking at the world from above is always very interesting,” said Puerta.

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Airlines and operators are likely to customize interiors to match their brand, Puerta said. The equipment included in flight will also depend on the environment in which it operates.

Vertical Aerospace has scheduled the first test flights of the VX4 in the summer of 2022, Puerta said.

The company hopes to have the aircraft certified by 2025.

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