Fancy a Sky-High Skip to the Airport? Joby Says, 'Hop On!'
Image Credit: Joby Aviation.
Let's talk about flying taxis. I know - again. But what was just a wild dream a couple of years ago, is becoming reality ridiculously fast. Just imagine being stuck in traffic, the clock's ticking, and your flight to Barbados is looking less like a dream and more like a distant memory. Wait… What's that whirring sound overhead? It's Joby Aviation swooping in to rescue your travel plans with their electric flying taxis. Oh yes, flying taxis are here to save the day.
Joby, those clever Californians, are teaming up with Virgin Atlantic in the good old Blighty to whisk you from airport to city in a fraction of the time it takes on the ground. They're promising a quick hop from Manchester Airport to Leeds in about 15 minutes. That's faster than my average trip to the fridge for a midnight snack. And Heathrow to Canary Wharf? Eight minutes! Eight minutes! That's barely enough time to spill your coffee. And if you've ever been to London, you know you'd need at least an hour for that trip using the roads.
These electric whirlybirds are officially known as eVTOLs (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft). Joby's versions are powered by six rotors and can carry five passengers, including the pilot. They have a range of about 100 miles on a single charge, which should be plenty enough for these short airport runs. And yes, they're quieter than a helicopter, which is a huge bonus for those of us who prefer our commutes without the ear-splitting racket.
For now, Joby is staying tight-lipped about the exact launch date, but at least they're promising prices comparable to "premium ground ridesharing options." Could it mean anything from "slightly more expensive than a bus ticket" to "you'll need to sell a kidney?" Sure, it can. But convenience comes at a price, I guess.
Image Credit: Joby Aviation.
Of course, as usual, when it comes to flying over busy cities, there are quite a few hoops to jump through. Joby needs the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to give them the thumbs-up, and they'll need to build a network of landing pads. But they've been busy bees, raising $700 million from Toyota and a public stock offering to fuel their ambitions. They even managed a 523-mile non-stop flight using hydrogen fuel cells.
Joby isn't the only player in this airborne game. Over in Japan, Skydrive is close to launching its three-seater eVTOL. And in China, EHang has already received certification for its autonomous flying machines. They've even tested solid-state batteries, doubling their flight time to a respectable 48 minutes. And air taxi business wouldn't be around without Lilium, the German startup with a penchant for drama, that rose from the ashes with a $206 million lifeline, only to collapse again. There are rumors swirling around that Lilium is coming back again, and it seems the flying taxi revolution is nigh. Like, really, really close.
I'm not going to bet my lunch money on us flying around like George Jetson anytime soon, not a chance on Earth. But there's no arguing that the technology is here, and it's evolving at a mind-boggling speed. Those dreams of skipping traffic jams, soaring above the gridlock, and arriving at your destination with a smug grin on your face? They are not that wild anymore.
Look, taking a flying taxi to the airport beats telling your loved ones that you missed your flight because you were stuck behind a tractor. I'm telling you - we better keep our eyes on the skies. The future of transportation is looking up, literally.
