The first full-scale prototype of an air taxi was presented to the public by the Brazilian startup Eve Air Mobility. The demonstration takes place in Gavião Peixoto, in the state of São 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 propellers, it takes off and lands vertically, and uses wings for horizontal flight. The developers say that this design provides more safety. At the same time, 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 climb to an altitude of up to 1000 meters. The power reserve is 100 kilometers. You can change the batteries between flights. It will take about five minutes. The cabin is designed for four passengers and a pilot. You can take hand luggage with you in the same way as on an airplane. In the future, unmanned taxis will appear. They can accommodate six passengers. Tests of the prototype will begin at the end of 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 that the air taxi will stand on the conveyor. The startup already has 3000 pre-orders. Eve Air Mobility is a subsidiary of the Brazilian aircraft conglomerate Embraer. It was founded in October 2022. Companies such as United Airlines, SkyWest, Republic Airlines and Rolls-Royce are investing in development.
BRAZILIAN STARTUP UNVEILS ITS FIRST FULL-SCALE AIR TAXI PROTOTYPE
