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All-Electric 'Flying Car' Takes Its First Test Flight In Germany (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the future-is-now dept.

Today, Munich-based Lilium Aviation conducted the first test flight of its all-electric, two-seater, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) prototype. "In a video provided by the Munich-based startup, the aircraft can be seen taking off vertically like a helicopter, and then accelerating into forward flight using wing-borne lift," reports The Verge. From the report: The craft is powered by 36 separate jet engines mounted on its 10-meter long wings via 12 movable flaps. At take-off, the flaps are pointed downwards to provide vertical lift. And once airborne, the flaps gradually tilt into a horizontal position, providing forward thrust. During the tests, the jet was piloted remotely, but its operators say their first manned flight is close-at-hand. And Lilium claims that its electric battery "consumes around 90 percent less energy than drone-style aircraft," enabling the aircraft to achieve a range of 300 kilometers (183 miles) with a maximum cruising speed of 300 kph (183 mph). "It's the same battery that you can find in any Tesla," Nathen told The Verge. "The concept is that we are lifting with our wings as soon as we progress into the air with velocity, which makes our airplane very efficient. Compared to other flights, we have extremely low power consumption." The plan is to eventually build a 5-passenger version of the jet.

4 of 178 comments (clear)

  1. Electric, or Jet? by Dawn+Keyhotie · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Can't be both, unless it's a hybrid. I guess that's possible.

    /DNRTFA

    --
    "The only good windmill is a tilted windmill."
    1. Re: Electric, or Jet? by Dawn+Keyhotie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, but a jet boat is not powered by a jet engine, that is the difference. A jet boat has a gas engine that powers the water jet.
      This doofus specifically said the "car" had many jet engines. It actually has many electrically powered ducted fans. Which are not jets except in the most pedantic sense, and even then, they are not powered by engines, but by motors.

      --
      "The only good windmill is a tilted windmill."
  2. Non-starter 'flying car' by byteherder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This flying car won't fit in my garage, won't travel down the highway (or any road for that matter), won't land at the grocery store and pick up milk.

    It only works if you live at an airport and your house backs up to the runway.

    1. Re:Non-starter 'flying car' by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You don't understand the downforce of the air required to lift a few thousand pounds into the air...

      You will never, ever, EVER be be able to do vertical take off from normal residential homes using anything that blows air, ever...

      Nothing to do with technology, engines, batteries, etc. It is simple physics. Look at my user name, yes I know :)