When Taxis Grow Wings: Boeing's Electric Flying Adventures Take Off in LA
Ah, Los Angeles. A place where dreams take flight - and now, quite literally so. Wisk Aero, the prodigious offspring of Boeing, decided to give the city's notorious traffic a literal run (or shall I say, "flight") for its money by showing off its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) talents. This isn't your run-of-the-mill eVTOL either, folks. This is fifth-generation innovation. You hear that, cars? Your three-dimensional limitations are so last year.
Now, having spent decades waxing poetic about everything from mopeds to mammoth cargo ships, I've seen my fair share of transportation wonders. But seeing Boeing's electric flying taxi spread its wings in the City of Angels? Well, that's something I'd pay a hefty sum to witness - though not as much as they're probably going to charge for a ride.
Let's talk specifics. These fancy electric air taxis boast seating for four people, presumably not including your mother-in-law, and some luggage (13.7 kg or 30 lbs, to be exact - which, translated, means one carry-on and a whole lot of hope). They promise a range of 90 miles (or 145 km for those who appreciate a little extra precision), all while being fully autonomous. Yeah, that's right. No pilot. Just you, the sky, and an AI that I genuinely hope doesn't have a vendetta against humanity.
But here's the clincher: these things can supposedly juice up in just 15 minutes. Now, I don’t know about you, but it takes my electric toothbrush longer to charge. And let’s not even talk about how long it takes me to find where I last left it.
Events at Long Beach's Festival of Flight demonstrated that the future of autonomous passenger flight might be closer than we think. Boeing's showcase made it clear: they're not just competing; they're leading. And while I've always fancied a quiet sail across the open waters or a thrill-packed motorcycle sprint, the prospect of zooming through the air, evading LA's diabolical traffic, is something I might just grow fond of.
Now, before we get too carried away imagining a future where our morning commute involves soaring over cityscapes, let's remember: the future always sounds better on paper (or, in this case, in a cheeky article). As much as the mayor of Long Beach is gushing about job prospects and environmental perks, I'm still waiting for the day an eVTOL can bring me a piping hot pizza in under 10 minutes. Until then, the jury's still out.
However, the event in LA was just the tip of the iceberg. Earlier in July 2023, Wisk, ever the show-off, performed the first public demonstration of an autonomous eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft in OshKosh, WI. It seems like these eVTOL companies are popping up faster than my neighbor's questionable lawn decorations.
In conclusion, the future looks bright, loud (or rather quiet, thanks to electric tech), and vertically exciting. But whether these electric flying taxis will become the staple of future transportation or just another toy for the ultra-rich, only time will tell.
And as for me? I'll keep my wheels grounded... until they come up with an electric motorcycle that can also fly. Now that would be a sight!
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
