Seeing how the world of air mobility has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, the dream of getting to work in your personal flying car no longer seems to be outside the bounds of reality. Though we still have to wait until personal flying vehicles become a common sight in the sky, several companies are working hard to turn this sci-fi dream into reality.
XPeng Aeroht, a subsidiary of the Chinese car manufacturer Xpeng, is one of those companies and has an ambitious goal, that of producing the safest intelligent electric flying car for individual users. The company's flying car, which consists of two modules and is called the Land Aircraft Carrier, achieved a major milestone this week - it took its first public piloted flight.
The maiden flight of the Land Aircraft Carrier (the detachable flying module) was completed at the ongoing Guangzhou International Auto Show in China in front of media and attendees. XPeng Aeroht's founder Zhao Deli, who is also an experienced pilot, personally piloted the flying car during the event, demonstrating its capabilities for the first time in front of an audience.
The modular Land Aircraft Carrier comprises a ground-based Mothership and the Aircraft itself. The former is a 6x6, all-wheel-drive van with rear-axle steering that stores the Aircraft in its large rear trunk. The flying module is a six-rotor, dual-duct electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). It has seating for two and 270-degree panoramic windows.
Designed as an eVTOL, the air module operates fully on electricity and can perform vertical takeoffs and landings, as well as various mid-air maneuvers. What’s more, it can be controlled via a manual joystick, and it also supports autonomous flying modes.
During the first day of the Guangzhou International Auto Show, Deli demonstrated to the media the entire process of the Land Aircraft Carrier's air module automatically separating from the land module, unfolding its six arms and propellers, and taking to the sky.
Once detached from the Mothership, the Aircraft performed various maneuvers to showcase its real-world potential, including forward and backward movement, turns, and vertical takeoffs and landings. The demonstration also showcased how the reattachment mechanism works.
XPeng Aeroht is currently building a large-scale manufacturing facility in Guangzhou that will have an annual capacity of 10,000 units. This is where the Land Aircraft Carrier will be produced for the masses. According to Zhao Deli, pre-sales will open by the end of 2024 at a price of 2 million yuan ($277,390), while deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.
Apar from personal use, XPeng Aeroht envisions very diverse applications for the Land Aircraft Carrier, from medical rescue missions to high-rise evacuations. The Chinese modular flying car has already piqued the interest of flying enthusiasts, with over 2,000 orders confirmed, the largest order to date in the global flying car space.
The Guangzhou-based company has recently showcased another innovative air mobility device, called the X5. Equipped with tilting rotors for enhanced range and speed, this next-gen flying car is aimed at intercity travel. It will be able to carry up to six people and reach speeds of up to 224 mph (360 kph).
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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