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Urban Air Mobility Takes Flight: FlyNow Aviation’s Electric Helicopter Innovation
In a bold step toward transforming urban transportation, the Salzburg-based startup FlyNow Aviation is advancing the development of its electric helicopter, the eCopter. This aerial taxi promises to deliver fast, eco-friendly, and affordable city travel.
Pioneering Urban Air Travel with eCopter
Amid the burgeoning interest in eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), FlyNow Aviation seeks to surmount the challenges of widespread adoption and integration into existing transport systems with its innovative eCopter.
Founded in 2019, FlyNow Aviation is testing its aircraft, classified as an electric helicopter by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The eCopter uses a coaxial electric propulsion system with dual counter-rotating rotors, potentially expediting certification compared to drone-like air taxis.
Its modular design, featuring minimal moving parts, reduces failure points and eases maintenance, according to the company. With a range of 50 kilometers and a cruising speed of 130 kilometers per hour, the eCopter can carry a maximum load of 200 kilograms, making it suitable for both cargo transport and one or two passengers.
Unlike competitors, FlyNow focuses on automatic flights along predefined routes rather than autonomous piloting. This strategy enhances safety, along with independent motors driving the rotors, which decrease the likelihood of accidents due to mechanical failures. Remarkably, the eCopter operates at a noise level of just 55 decibels.
Cost-Effective Production and Environmental Impact
FlyNow Aviation aims to reshape urban air mobility with its technology, drawing parallels to Henry Ford's impact on automobile accessibility. The eCopter is poised to not only reduce the environmental footprint of transportation but also alleviate traffic congestion and health risks associated with public transport.
CEO Jürgen Greil envisions the eCopter as a complement to existing transport infrastructures, providing more options for reaching destinations. The cargo variant is slated for production by 2026, with the startup claiming production costs ten times lower than competitors, enabling transport prices comparable to traditional taxis.
FlyNow hopes to achieve greater success than the VoloCity, an eVTOL by Volocopter, which failed to secure approval in time for the Olympic Games.
With its strategic innovations, FlyNow Aviation is poised to redefine the urban transport landscape, offering a glimpse into a more sustainable and efficient future.