Riding the Electric Skies: Why I Might Just Trade My Beloved Bike for a Flying Car!
Now, I’ve ridden every vehicle known to man. Motorbikes on smooth tarmac, cars that purr down Route 66, and boats that cut through waters like a hot knife through butter. But, a flying car? You’ve got to be yanking my chain. SkyDrive, you say? An eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) no less? Well, color me interested.
I recently got wind, or should I say, “caught air” of a company named SkyDrive. They hail from Japan and have apparently been playing with the big idea of flying cars since 2018. Fast forward to today, and they’ve agreed to sell up to 50 of these eVTOLs to an aircraft leasing company in Korea called Solyu. This ain’t your regular Uber, folks. This is Uber’s rich, airborne cousin. Solyu intends to help with the severe traffic congestion in Korea. Traffic congestion? Ah, yes, the reason why my beloved motorbike makes sense, zipping through it all.
What caught my ear next was a quote from Andrew Claerbout, the president of Solyu, "The eVTOL market will bring opportunities for reducing global emissions and increasing traveler convenience." Now that sounds right up my alley. I’m all for reducing global emissions. Though, between you and me, the world needs its occasional belch – keeps us grounded, right?
Now, let's get down to brass tacks and talk specs. I’d love to give you dimensions, but they seem to be playing that card close to their chest. Power outputs? Again, it’s like pulling teeth. But considering it’s aiming to alleviate traffic congestion, I’ll wager it's zippy. Battery capacity? Hopefully enough to get you from point A to B without making an unscheduled stop at a rooftop. Price? If you must ask, you probably can’t afford it! And acceleration times? Let’s just say I'd like to see it race my favorite motorcycle.
Back to SkyDrive. They're no rookies, having conducted their first crewed flight test in 2019. They’ve even applied for certification from Japan’s Civil Aeronautics Law. That’s a fancy way of saying that they want to ensure this thing can actually fly without turning into a glorified paperweight. They're looking to launch the SD-05 as an air taxi service come 2025.
And, in true Japanese fashion, they aren't just resting on their laurels. They've teamed up with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) for some nose reduction on eVTOL vehicles. And no, that’s not cosmetic surgery for aircraft.
Other fun tidbits include a research study by a Japanese university and insurance group, aiming to “create new industries using flying cars.” Yep, from air taxis to regional tourism. The future, it seems, is truly airborne.
So, what’s the verdict? Would I trade my beloved motorbike or car for a flying car? The jury is still out on that one. But with the pace SkyDrive and other companies are moving, I might just be considering an upgrade to the skies.
In the end, while I love the familiar hum of my motorcycle and the comfortable purr of my car, the skies do beckon. After all, as they say, the sky is the limit. Or is it now just the beginning?
