Important Innovations

  D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane COULD 2024 BE THE YEAR FOR FLYING TAXIS?                                                  Source:  Volocopter 2024 looks like it could be the take-off year for flying taxis eVTOL flying taxi company Volocopter, based in Germany, says it intends to start commercial flights with its Volocity all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing flying taxi in 2024 Volocopter recently successfully completed a test flight over Paris with a pilot and passenger onboard, that operated out of the international airport and was monitored by Groupe ADP, an international airport operator Volocopter says it will go commercial for all uses - urban commuting, medical and logistics 18 rotors and 18 electric motors 22 mile range Top speed is 60 mph In 2011, Volocopter was the first to build and fly an eVTOL and take a passenger for a test

   Big Competition for $49 Billion Helicopter Industry                                                                                Source:  AIR AIR's Flying Taxis 200 companies around the world are developing eVTOLs that could prove to be big disruptors of the $49 billion helicopter industry. Flying taxi company AIR is a primary example with impressive tech: Israel and California based AIR has developed a powerful, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) with a multi-market focus, including displacing helicopters as transit to and from yachts AIR is partnering with the non-profit International SeaKeepers Society to build an air taxi business within the yachting community to ferry passengers, cargo and supplies back and forth between yachts and the shore The sales pitch:  eVTOL air taxis are safer with far fewer parts that can break down, much cheaper, emit zero emissions and operate with much greater efficiency than helicopters SeaKeepers, which is an educational o

   Big Competition for $49 Billion Helicopter Industry                                                                                Source:  AIR AIR's Flying Taxis 200 companies around the world are developing eVTOLs that could prove to be big disruptors of the $49 billion helicopter industry. Flying taxi company AIR is a primary example with impressive tech: Israel and California based AIR has developed a powerful, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) with a multi-market focus, including displacing helicopters as transit to and from yachts AIR is partnering with the non-profit International SeaKeepers Society to build an air taxi business within the yachting community to ferry passengers, cargo and supplies back and forth between yachts and the shore The sales pitch:  eVTOL air taxis are safer with far fewer parts that can break down, much cheaper, emit zero emissions and operate with much greater efficiency than helicopters SeaKeepers, which is an educational o

  25 New Air Taxi Orders From Japan                                                                 Source:  Vertical Aerospace Flying Taxi Accelerating Toward Certification UK-based aerospace and technology company Vertical Aerospace has secured 25 new pre-orders for its eVTOL VX4 from Japanese trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation.  Here are the key facts: Vertical Aerospace has secured 25 paid pre-orders for VX4 for use as commuter air taxis in Japan The orders from Marubeni could soar to 200 and that is on top of 1400 orders by airlines like Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Japan Airlines Vertical takeoff and landing, all electric aircraft VX4 carries a pilot and up to 4 passengers Range on a charge is 100 miles Top speed is 200 mph and cruising speed is 150 mph Company claims to be using the world's lightest and safest powertrain, co-created with Rolls Royce that is 1 MW electric Contains same flight control and advanced avionics that are in the F35, one of

  Midnight Flying Taxi to Be Manufactured in US Exclusively                                             Source:  Archer Midnight Big Boost for Archer to Hit the Market First Global automaker Stellantis and eVTOL startup Archer Aviation are joining forces to manufacture Archer's eVTOL flying taxi Midnight.  Here are the key details on this new, powerful flying taxi partnership: Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot & more, has significantly expanded its partnership with eVTOL California startup Archer Aviation Stellantis will provide strategic new funding of $150 million for growth and be the exclusive manufacturer of Archer's flying taxi Midnight in a new facility to be built in Covington, Georgia that will include advanced manufacturing technologies The partners hope to have 6,000 Midnight air taxis operational by 2030 Tech Specs Archer expects Midnight to be in the air in 2024 Will carry a pilot and up to 4 passengers or a 1000-pound payload 12 w

  Midnight Flying Taxi to Be Manufactured in US Exclusively                                             Source:  Archer Midnight Big Boost for Archer to Hit the Market First Global automaker Stellantis and eVTOL startup Archer Aviation are joining forces to manufacture Archer's eVTOL flying taxi Midnight.  Here are the key details on this new, powerful flying taxi partnership: Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot & more, has significantly expanded its partnership with eVTOL California startup Archer Aviation Stellantis will provide strategic new funding of $150 million for growth and be the exclusive manufacturer of Archer's flying taxi Midnight in a new facility to be built in Covington, Georgia that will include advanced manufacturing technologies The partners hope to have 6,000 Midnight air taxis operational by 2030 Tech Specs Archer expects Midnight to be in the air in 2024 Will carry a pilot and up to 4 passengers or a 1000-pound payload 12 w

  United Airlines & Archer Aviation's Midnight Air Taxis                                               Source:  Archer Aviation 1st Route:  Newark International Airport to NYC United Airlines and Archer Aviation have just announced the first air taxi route in the United States.  The two collaborators will start air taxi service out of Newark Liberty International Airport to downtown Manhattan and then expand services to connect many other cities to their nearby airports.  The Archer air taxis are called Midnight and they are eVTOLs, which are all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  The air taxis will fly from Newark International to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City.  Archer says their flying taxi route is a first in the US.  Bold Innovation The Mayor of New York City Eric Adams called the first route "bold innovation", and he is thrilled that the service will start in New York City.  Archer's Midnight is expected to go into service in

  BAE & Supernal Partner on eVTOL Flight Control System                                                  Source:  Supernal Developing the Technological Brains of Flying Taxis Aerospace and defense technology leader BAE Systems and eVTOL developer Supernal (owned by Hyundai) have formed a new partnership to develop a highly advanced flight control system for Supernal's flying taxis to fly autonomously. In essence, they are developing the technological brains to enable flying taxis to self-fly. The system will be a lightweight, cutting edge, fly-by-wire system usable for both eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), advanced air mobility vehicles (AAMs) and large, regional, electric aircraft.  The architecture will directly control the electric vehicles during flight, takeoff and landing.  BAE says that it is harnessing its expertise in electrification and flight-critical systems to advance "sustainable aviation". Formidable Partnership of Flight Control

  BAE & Supernal Partner on eVTOL Flight Control System                                                  Source:  Supernal Developing the Technological Brains of Flying Taxis Aerospace and defense technology leader BAE Systems and eVTOL developer Supernal (owned by Hyundai) have formed a new partnership to develop a highly advanced flight control system for Supernal's flying taxis to fly autonomously. In essence, they are developing the technological brains to enable flying taxis to self-fly. The system will be a lightweight, cutting edge, fly-by-wire system usable for both eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), advanced air mobility vehicles (AAMs) and large, regional, electric aircraft.  The architecture will directly control the electric vehicles during flight, takeoff and landing.  BAE says that it is harnessing its expertise in electrification and flight-critical systems to advance "sustainable aviation". Formidable Partnership of Flight Control

South Korea's Plana  eVTOLs                                                  Source:  Plana Target:  Intercity Travel South Korean startup Plana is developing a 7-seat hybrid-electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) for intercity, regional commuter flights.  The company, founded by the executive who ran Hyundai's early eVTOL operations, plans to put their flying taxis into service in 2028.  The technology is specifically designed for longer haul, intercity flights such as Boston to New York City.  The vehicle has a 350-mile range on a charge and can travel at speeds up to 217 mph. Thus far, the company has raised nearly $10 million in investment funding.  Tech Specs The design of Plana's flying taxi is unique.  The fuselage is long and thin and flows into an upper main wing. The eVTOL is powered and propelled by 6, five-blade tilting electric propellers.  There also is a canard, which is a small winglike projection attached in front of the main wing to provide

  United Airlines Buys 100 Midnight Flying Taxis Pre-Debut                                      Source:  Archer Aviation Air Taxis Official Midnight Unveiling in Mid-November 2022 California-based Archer Aviation will unveil the first production ready version of its eVTOL Midnight on November 16, 2022, in San Jose. This flying taxi is very successful "sight unseen", as the eVTOL technologies and the engineering underpinning it are so impressive.  United Airlines has placed a down payment of $10 million to buy 100 Midnights to fly passengers to and from its major hubs.  And Archer has partnered with global automaker Stellantis (Chrysler, Fiat) to develop the eVTOL and to achieve manufacturing scale for full manufacturing production of the aircraft for global sales.  Midnight is a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can carry 4 passengers and a pilot.  It is designed to play a significant role in the emerging urban air mobility market to particularly fly c