Its 2022 which means weve been promised VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraftfor over a decadenow.
But whilepioneer foundersare incrementally moving towards commercial deployment, theres a new breed of startups snapping at their heels.
Oh, and I gave them all a rating along the way.
Lets take a look:
Zeva (US)
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The passenger stands during take-off and landing, and can see through the glass.
It also requires minimal landing space.
This, combined with its compactness, suggests they have their sights set on the military.
:A full-sized prototype achieved its first untethered, powered test flight in January.
When can I fly in it?
:No time soon.
Its still early days.
But this is the only aircraft of this list that has actually successfully flown.
If you asked someone in the 1950s what future flight would look like, this is probably it.
But I cant see it going mainstream,rather itll be restricted to hobbyists.
Phractyl (South Africa)
Whys it special?
:ThePhractyl Acrobatis nowhere near ready.
In fact, its currently just CGI and a piece of wood.
The company calls it an African solution for an African problem.
Range:150 km (93 miles)
Speed:180 kmph
Funding:The project is self-funded and welcomes donations and investment.
When can I fly in it?
As the company notes, battery technology is awesome, but… its still going through puberty.
Verdict:???
It looks like a bird whats cooler than that?
But honestly, this is all we know so far.
Odys Aviation (US)
Whys it special?
:Unlike most eVTOLs that transport two-to-five,Odys Aviationaims for a capacity closer to that of an aircraft.
Significantly, this vehicle is a nine-seater.
Furthermore, its creating a hybrid-electric aircraft that includes a gas turbine generator and offers a 15-minute charging turnaround.
This is a big deal.
This means its focusing on selling its aircraft to airlines.
Whats the latest?Its working on its next prototype, a remotely piloted one-seater.
When can I fly in it?
:According to the company, 2026.
This is definitely one to watch.
Ace VTOL (Australia)
Whys it special?
On top of this, the company is the first wheelchair-friendly VTOL on the market.
It can also introduce Hydrogen cells if [it chooses].
The level of stability of the Ace VTOL is being designed to ensure that you never spill your Martini.
Ace VTOLs technology also advances insight into atmospheric ion in-flight recharging.
In real words, this means the aircraft can charge as it flies.
Whats the latest?Ace VTOL is still in the design phase and has only 10 staff.
When can I fly in it?
:The company is aiming for a 2024 launch.
Honestly, its hard to rate an aircraft this early in the process.
According to Northey:
Companies like Joby and Archer are pioneers but are far from innovative.
We can learn from their progress and just do everything better.
This new breed can learn a lot from the pioneers.
But I have no idea how they could get to a 2024 launch from here.
I fully appreciate that press attention is valuable in building networks and reaching investors.
Theres a lot of funding and, as the tech evolves, so do the players.
Keep your eyes on the skies, people.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
