All-electric “flying car” takes off

Flying cars are a step closer to reality with the Lilium Jet successfully completing its maiden test flight series in Bavaria.

The electric two-seater Eagle vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype, piloted remotely, performed a range of complex manoeuvres including its signature mid-air transition from hover mode to wing-borne forward flight.

The rigid winged body has 12 flaps, each flap having three electric jet engines – totalling 36. The flaps tilt from a vertical take-off position to horizontal for flight.

The successful test flight shows that our ground-breaking technical design works exactly as we envisaged, Lilium says. “We can now turn our focus to designing a five-seater production aircraft.”

The five-seater is planned for on-demand air taxi and ridesharing services.

A typical journey with the Lilium Jet will be at least five times faster than by car, with even greater efficiencies in busy cities, the Munich company says.

Lilium talks about a large network of small and inexpensive landing pads and central places being established in cities, allowing customers to quickly enter an aircraft anytime and fly anywhere they want.
“You won’t have to own one, you will simply pay per ride and call it with a push of a button. It’s our mission to make air taxis available to everyone and as affordable as riding a car,” the company says.
The first manned flight is planned in 2019, although the air taxis are likely to become autonomous. Lilium expects on-demand air transport will be a reality in 2025.