SkyDrive's Air Taxi & World Expo 2025
2-Seat eVTOLs Made in Japan
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Hot Japanese Startup SkyDrive
Japanese eVTOL startup SkyDrive intends to introduce flying taxi service at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The company just unveiled its new, two seat SD-05 eVTOL which will be the flying taxi vehicle taking passengers on short flights around the big event. SD-05 is the next technological iteration on the original one-seat, sporty prototype SD-03 which has been successfully flown in demonstrations in Japan since it was introduced in 2020. SkyDrive is a hot eVTOL startup with a partnership with Suzuki and millions of dollars in investment money bankrolling the development of its flying taxis. It just raised $66 million in a Series C funding round to build the SD-5's as well as its cargo drones.
New Technologies & A Bird-Like Design
The SD-05 will be piloted by a human who will get lots of assistance from a computer-controlled flight system. There are a dozen motor/prop rotors that emerge in clusters of three from the swallow-like wings above the cabin of the aircraft. The design of this air taxi has taken inspiration from the streamlined shape of birds. It has horizontal and vertical tails for extra flight stability. At this point, maximum speed is targeted at 62 mph and there is a range target of 6.2 mile, which limits the vehicle's use to very short, quick trips. Maximum takeoff weight is 2400 pounds. The body is composed of aluminum alloy and composites. It is sized at 31 feet x 31 feet x 8.5 feet. SkyDrive expects to get certification to fly from the Japanese government. And it also plans to provide air taxi services in the US.
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