Volocopter air taxi

Image via Volocopter

Volocopter: Electric air taxi now accepting reservations for 2023 flights

Volocopter, an electric air taxi, has been working on its revolutionary 18-rotor electric aircraft. It’s now accepting reservations.

Volocopter air taxi

Image via Volocopter

Remember when we would watch movies that were set in the future? They would boast amazing gadgets like flying hoverboards, robot bartenders, and flying cars.

Some of these inventions are evolving way past concept, and technology is certainly making our future look cool. Allow us to introduce the Volocopter.

Volocopter: What you need to know

Volocopter, a German start-up aircraft manufacturer, has been working on its revolutionary 18-rotor electric aircraft. The aircraft is ambitiously setting the standard for air mobility, and the company is ready to accept reservations.

The reservations are only applicable for the year 2023; however, as the official launch only takes place in 2022.

The Helicopter aircraft type is a battery-powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). The first commercial flights will be piloted, but the ultimate plan is for the VTOL to be an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The aircraft manufacturer is yet to announce where you can book these flights but test flights have already been conducted in Dubai, Singapore as well at their headquarters in Bruchsal, Germany.

Watch: Volocopter in action

Tickets come at a $355 (approximately R5 731) a pop. Reservations can be made at 10% the cost. There are also only 1 000 reservations available for a limited time, so it’s super exclusive.

Futuristic flights

The duration of the flight, according to Volocopter will be about 15 minutes. CEO Florian Reuter stated that, “based on our public test flights and regulatory achievement record, we have paved the way to make the electric flight in cities common in just a few years”.

The aircraft, for now, can only carry one passenger and go for about 27km. The Volocopter manufacturer states that the technology is constantly being improved on.

By launch date, it would have evolved beyond its current impressive state. It will certainly be quite an experience taking a flight on one of these, in the not so distant future.

“While the final certification for air taxis is still pending, we do have a detailed realistic timeline to launch commercial VoloCity flights in the next 2 to 3 years. Moreover, those who reserve now can receive the latest updates about our progress and the commercial launch plan”.

Volocopter’ chief commercial officer, Christian Bauer