Lilium Aviation's Electric Flying Car That Can Take Off And Land Vertically Is Simply Awesome

Flight has always been foremost among mankind¡¯s dreams, one that we¡¯ve yearned for more and more despite other advancements in personal transportation. Sci-fi novels from as far back as the 80s talk about a future where average men and women can leave behind the traffic snarls of their daily commute and take to the skies. Now, we may be one step closer to that future.

The VTOL prototype from Lilium Aviation

Lilium Aviation has announced the first test flight of its two seater flying electric car prototype, the VTOL, a reference to its vertical takeoff and landing capability. In a video released by the Munich-based startup, the car/aircraft can be seen lifting off vertically, just like a helicopter, before shooting away on its wings.

The VTOL is powered by 36 individual jet engines mounted on its 10-meter-long wings using 12 adjustable flaps. When taking off, the flaps are pointed downward for maximum lift, which then gradually tilt to a horizontal position to give the aircraft forward thrust.

Because it¡¯s an experimental flight, the vehicles was piloted remotely during the test, but Lilium says they¡¯re not far away from conducted a manned flight test. The company claims its electric battery ¡°consumes around 90 percent less energy than drone-style aircraft,¡± enabling the VTOL fly anywhere within a 300 kilometer range at a maximum cruising speed of 300 kph.

¡°It¡¯s the same battery that you can find in any Tesla,¡± Lilium co-founder Patrick Nathen told The Verge. ¡°The concept is that we are lifting with our wings as soon as we progress into the air with velocity, which makes our airplane very efficient. Compared to other flights, we have extremely low power consumption.¡±

Lilium intends to eventually have the VTOL be autonomous, but it plans to use human pilots in the meantime. Other safety measures also include onboard parachutes, and something called a ¡°Flight Envelope Protection System¡± which prevents the pilot from performing stunts or generally flying dangerously.

The aim is to eventually build a version of the jet to seat five passenger, something that could be used in dense urban areas as an air taxi. Just pull out your smartphone and book a trip on the app, similar to how you might call for an Uber. The only extra step would be you¡¯d have to make your way to the nearest special launch pad.

And no, the VTOL will not be for just the wealthy and entitled; Nathen insists the plan is to price the service low enough to be widely accessible. By estimates, a 55-minute taxi ride with a $55 fare could instead be bypassed with a 5-minute flight in Lilium¡¯s jet for as low as $6

And before you dismiss this as another luxury mode of transportation for the super-rich, Nathen insists the goal is to get the cost low enough so everyone can use it. A 55-minute taxi ride from Midtown Manhattan to JFK airport, with a fare of $55, becomes a breezy 5 minute flight in a Lilium jet, for as low as $6.

If it seems fantastical, it¡¯s probably because it is. Flying cars, of course, are ridiculous. Wild-eyed inventors have been pursuing the idea for decades, with little to show for it. Many have gone broke, and some have died, trying to turn their fever dreams into reality. The fact that flying cars act as a stand-in for some distant, unattainable future isn¡¯t a mistake. There are many things about flying cars that make them impractical, unworkable, and even wrongheaded. The problem is that these aircraft don't solve any problems for normal human beings, nor do they even gesture toward a meaningful impact in the distant future.

But that hasn¡¯t stopped many from trying. And with better materials, autonomous navigation systems, and other technical advances, dozens of well-heeled investors are convinced that we¡¯re on the cusp of seeing flying cars ¡ª or at least small, electric, autonomously flown commuter planes ¡ª take to the skies.

¡°We are right now at the magical point,¡± Nathen said. ¡°We have without a doubt started at the perfect time... This is why you can see a lot of different projects from all over the world.¡±