Futuristic flying hypercar that is designed for inner city travel and could one day reach speeds of 135mph at 3,000 feet completes successful test flight in Dubai

A futuristic flying ‘hypercar’ designed for inner city travel that could reach speeds of 135 miles per hour at 3,000 feet has completed a successful test flight in Dubai.

The half-scale Volar Antelope prototype was shown off at this year’s Dubai Air Show

London-based startup Bellwether Industries completed its test flight of the fully-electric Volar eVTOL prototype in November, but has only today revealed footage of the test. The futuristic half-scale version flew at an altitude of 13 feet (4 metres) with a speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour), according to the firm.

The Bellwether Volar eVTOL prototype has been designed for private owners as a replacement for cars, freeing up space on the ground for cyclists and pedestrians and alleviating congestion, but it could also provide on-demand transport much like an Uber. It plans to have a full-scale prototype to be ready and tested by 2023. Availability of the final model is expected in 2028 for on-demand transport and 2030 for private ownership, which would allow users to fly to work for a luxury commute.

The Bellwether Volar: a flying hypercar for private owners

It says: ‘We believe that people commuting in the sky is inevitable within the next 10 years.’

The company says the vehicle is the world’s first without a large wingspan or exposed blades, making it ideal for urban use, although the firm is yet to confirm exactly how much it would set back customers.

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Video: Successful test flight of flying car designed for inner city travel

The vehicle is the world’s first without a large wingspan or exposed blades, making it ideal for urban use, according to the London firm
The Bellwether Volar eVTOL prototype test flight in Dubai. London company Bellwether Industries today revealed footage of a successful flight test of a vehicle they say will replace cars
The futuristic half-scale version flew at an altitude of 13 feet (4 metres) with a speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour
Bellwether Industries’ Volar eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) is a flying hypercar that will ultimately be available to private owners, but the firm is yet to reveal a price
The firm says: ‘At Bellwether Industries, we believe that the human’s future will be in the air. Our mission is to provide the most compatible Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solution for intracity travels and private transportation’

Bellwether Industries was able to log eight test flights with its half-scale model during the recent Dubai session, following a year of indoor tethered flights. The Dubai test flight demonstrated stability and controllability of the prototype and marks the start of a series of development projects, according to the firm.

The electric vehicle has a hidden propulsion system featuring ducted fans, avoiding any exposed spinning blades or a large wingspan.

The half-scale Antelope prototype has flown, off-tether, at speeds up to around 40 km/h (25 mph)

It would charge just like an electric vehicle does on land – at dedicated charging points – although it will have to rely on a ‘comprehensive infrastructure and transport system’ to avoid falling out the sky when the charge is used up, the firm said.

The current prototype has just two seats, but the firm’s ultimate vision is a four-to-five-seater aircraft to fit entire families, carrying out intracity travels at an altitude of 3,000 feet (915 metres) with a speed of up to 135 miles per hour (220 kilometres per hour).

The Volar looks and quacks like something too good to be true

‘We want to create private urban aircraft for anyone to fly from anywhere to any point at any time,’ said a spokesperson for the firm, which was founded in London in 2019.

‘Our volar flies smoothly and proves our efforts that go into innovation and technology.’

The Bellwether Volar eVTOL prototype is depicted here over New York. The vehicle would be owned by members of the public for commutes
The London company says: ‘We believe that people commuting in the sky is inevitable within the next 10 years’ – and it hopes to allow this with its vehicles
Like a scene from Star Wars, this futuristic concept image shows the Bellwether Volar eVTOL on its dedicated landing platform on a high rise building

Regarding prices, the company hasn’t revealed a specific amount but said its goal is to make owning a Volar eVTOL ‘as easy as like owning a car’ and ‘no bigger nor pricier than a car’. ‘But of course the first volar model on the private market will be more expensive,’ the spokesperson told MailOnline. ‘The plan is to provide on-demand transport by 2028 and private ownership by 2030.’

Bellwether Industries defines ‘volar’ as ‘a new category of transportation – private urban aircraft for inner city travel. The vehicle is defined as a vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which can take off straight up into the air, reducing the need for runway space.

The eVTOL industry is predicted by Morgan Stanley to be worth $1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion) by 2040.

The firm plans to have a full-scale prototype to be ready and tested by 2023. A volar will be capable to take anyone to fly anytime and anywhere to any point in cities
An artist’s impression of the Bellwether Industries Volar eVTOL prototype having landed on a helipad aboard a luxury ocean liner
Bellwether’s mission is to bring urban air mobility to people’s lives and minimise the effect of transportation on the environment including physical damage and noise

As well as private flying vehicles, efforts are also underway by other companies to create a fleet of commercial vehicles to transport paying customers, much like taxis or ride-sharing vehicles except airborne. Flying taxis are set to shuttle passengers from Heathrow to cities in the South of England for the price of an Uber cab in just four years’ time, it was revealed last year.

Passengers arriving at Heathrow could take an electric air ‘taxi’ to London’s Canary Wharf in just 13 minutes for about £50 per passenger. A Uber journey costs £46. Officials in Paris are also hoping to use flying taxis to shuttle sports fans across the city during the 2024 Olympic Games.

South Korean car maker Hyundai is also planning to develop autonomous electric taxis with seating for up to five passengers that will hit the skies by 2028.

Source: dailymail

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