Personal use AIR ONE ‘flying car’ eVTOL makes its first test hover flights

The Israeli startup developing a consumer electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), AIR, revealed today that its AIR ONE two-seater prototype successfully completed a series of hover tests as part of the company’s drive to produce an advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicle for personal use by 2025.

The company said the eVTOL’s first flight was staged June 21, after which AIR ONE was put through multiple daily trials over a period of two weeks. AIR said the craft performed safe liftoff, hovering, and touch down maneuvers. It performed as designed in stable flight envelopes, with all operational and control systems fulfilling previously designated metrics. Advanced flight testing is slated to be carried out throughout 2022.

Somewhat similar to Sweden’s Jetson ONE flying car, the AIR ONE eVTOL is sidestepping the predominating activity in the sector – that is, producing aircraft for commercial air taxi and other AAM services – to…