Flying Taxis on show at Farnborough International Airshow
The Farnborough International Airshow takes place this week, unveiling the best of the UK’s aerospace and defence sector.
Among the innovation on display will be eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), or flying taxis, which could come into use in the second half of this decade, according to The Times.
eVTOLs have the potential to become a zero-emissions replacement for helicopters, bringing with them new infrastructure not dissimilar to the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points we are currently seeing across the country. The most powerful of these in Europe recently opened in Oxford.
Read more about this here: Europe’s most powerful EV charging hub opens in Oxford
One use of eVTOLs could be in airport transfers, with the potential for passengers to pay a premium to move easily from city centres to international terminals. Heathrow’s largest investor, Spanish construction group Ferrovial, has suggested a ring of vertiports connected to Heathrow.
Current eVTOLs at the prototype stage have a range of around 100 miles and speeds of 200mph. Their main advantages over traditional helicopters are reductions in noise and emissions.
eVTOLs will not just be taxis for the rich, however. Any mission which currently uses a conventional helicopter could theoretically be operated by an eVTOL, including emergency and coastguard missions, high-value cargo delivery and the military.
One company displaying these in Farnborough will be Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace. The firm are unveiling their VX4 model, which can carry one pilot and four passengers. Having already secured regulatory certifications, Vertical plan to start producing the aircraft by 2025, already boasting 1,400 orders.
Also at the Farnborough Airshow will be Fareham-based Barnbrook Systems Limited, who are set to unveil a range of new products.
Read more about this here: Hampshire firm to showcase new products at Farnborough International Airshow
