The first full-scale air taxi prototype was presented to the public by the Brazilian startup Eve Air Mobility. The demonstration takes place in Gavian Peixoto in the state of Sao Paulo. The developers plan to put the air taxi into operation in 2026. But they have yet to test the prototype in flight. An air taxi is a hybrid of a multicopter and an airplane. With the help of screws, it takes off and lands vertically, and uses wings for horizontal flight. The developers say this design provides more safety. In this case, no elements need to be folded – both the propellers and the wings are always in the same position.
The air taxi will be able to rise to a height of up to 1000 meters. Power reserve – 100 kilometers. Batteries can be changed between flights. This will take about five minutes.
The cabin is designed for four passengers and a pilot. You can take hand luggage with you just like on a plane. Self-driving taxis will appear in the future. They can accommodate six passengers.
Testing of the prototype will begin late this year or early next year. After their completion, the startup will release a pre-production version. Then you will still need to successfully pass certification. And only after this the air taxi will enter the conveyor belt. The startup already has 3,000 pre-orders.
Eve Air Mobility is a subsidiary of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturing conglomerate Embraer. It was founded in October 2022. Companies such as United Airlines, SkyWest, Republic Airlines and Rolls-Royce are investing in developments.
