Japanese startup SkyDrive has successfully conducted a test flight of its air taxi over Tokyo Bay. The compact vehicle, called SD-05, remained in the air for three and a half minutes, confirming that the technology is ready for operation in urban environments.
Unlike noisy helicopters, the device runs on electric batteries and is powered by 12 motors. It resembles a large quadcopter designed to carry three people. The key advantage of the model is its compact size: it does not require large landing areas and can land even in densely built urban settings.
According to the developers, such flights could free megacities from traffic congestion. Travel time would be reduced by 4–5 times. Where a conventional taxi might spend an hour stuck in traffic, the flying car could deliver passengers in just 12–15 minutes.
According to the company’s CEO, Tomohiro Fukudzawa, in the future the cost of a flight will be only twice that of a regular taxi ride. This would make fast air travel accessible to a wide audience and help solve the problem of time lost in traffic.
ORIENT
