Vertical take-off electric Volocopter air taxi completes maiden flight

VoloConnect, an electrically powered, four-seater air taxi from Volocopter, completed its maiden flight in May. It was a short flight of a few minutes. The VoloConnect must be taken into use in 2026.

A prototype of the aircraft completed according to Volocopter some maneuvers during the first test flight, which lasted a total of 2 minutes and 14 seconds. According to the company, the aircraft was only worked on for 17 months before this first flight took place.

The VoloConnect has six rotors that provide vertical landing and take-off, after which two electrically powered motors must ensure sufficient forward speed. The device must ultimately achieve a range of approximately 100 km and fly at a cruising speed of 180 km/h. The maximum speed is 250 km/h.

The idea is that this range makes the air taxi especially suitable for relatively longer distances, such as transporting business people between cities and suburbs. The aircraft must fly autonomously, but depending on regulations, the aircraft can also be controlled by a pilot.

The manufacturer is also working on the VoloCity, an air taxi for two people with eighteen rotors that should be used mainly for transport within cities. The VoloConnect is an extension of the VoloCity. Volocopter is also working on the VoloDrone, a drone that will transport loads of up to 200 kg over a distance of up to 40 km without a crew.