Those who grew up in the 1960s may remember Hanna-Barbera’s classic ‘The Jetsons’, a futuristic depiction of flying cars.
While this may sound like pure fantasy, engineers in Austria say their new car will fly in just a few months – heralding a new milestone in human driving.
The Linz-based company CycloTech has unveiled the Blackbird, a flying taxi that uses an electric propulsion system developed by a boat.
The Blackbird has ‘360-degree maneuvrability’ thanks to a rotary engine that rotates like a ‘Voith Schneider’ propeller on a ship.
With a height of 16 feet (4.9 meters) and a maximum weight of 340kg, this plane carries two people through the air at up to 74 mph (120 km per hour).
Still in development, the Blackbird is expected to be completed by the end of this month, with the first full-scale flight scheduled for late March next year.
After this decade, people can appreciate the Uber-style ride on the Blackbird and move distances faster than traditional cars on the ground.
Flying taxis like the Blackbird can travel through the air almost non-stop – a welcome relief from the usual ground-based traffic.
The Blackbird – which is being built by Austrian company CycloTech – carries two people as it travels through the air at up to 74 mph (120 km per hour). CycloTech envisions a future where the Blackbird and other flying cars will transport people from their homes
Fans of the classic 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon ‘The Jetsons’ will know that it is set in a comical future where flying cars roam the skies.
It is unclear how much money CycloTech has spent on its Blackbird vehicle, although the company raised $21.8 million (£17.2 million) earlier this year to bring it closer to market.
MailOnline has contacted the company for details.
As indicated by the company, the Blackbird has six rotating electric motors – known as ‘cyclorotors’ – which are guided by marine systems.
As it spins, the cyclorotors create a lift that is powerful enough to launch the BlackBird into space and keep it there.
Furthermore, by slightly changing the position of each rotor blade, the direction of thrust can be changed, allowing ‘an easy transition from hover to forward’.
“With our Blackbird, we are showing how this new technology will open up the flying car market,” said Hans-Georg Kinsky, CEO of CycloTech.
‘CycloTech is the only company in the world working on the commercialization of cyclorotors as a major operating system.’
CycloTech says the whole system allows for ‘optimal control in all directions’, including mid-air and downhill braking, as well as equal suspension when approaching the ground.
The Blackbird has six sets of cyclorotors (‘cyclorotors’) – two in the front, two in the rear, one in front of the wheel and one behind the wheel.
As it spins, the cyclorotors create a lift that is powerful enough to launch the BlackBird into space.
The Blackbird has ‘360-degree maneuvrability’ thanks to a rotary engine that rotates like a ‘Voith Schneider’ propeller on board (pictured here in a file photo)
It can break up suddenly in mid-air, which is important for flying cars even though airplanes are not crowded with today’s roads.
The propulsion system also guarantees ‘stability and maximum riding comfort’ even in adverse conditions such as strong winds and rain.
CycloTech says it has chosen cyclorotors for its flying vehicle because they enable ‘smaller aircraft that are half the size of those with propellers or rotors’.
Although the Blackbird has six rotors, Kinsky said it ‘can continue to fly under control’ if one of them fails.
CycloTech’s promotional images also show that riders can enjoy the luxury of a super sports car while carrying up to 74mph.
Glass wing doors, similar to that on the DeLorean image from ‘Back to the Future’open all sides of the tourist area.
Meanwhile, a digital display welcomes passengers and provides important information such as speed and altitude.
The Blackbird is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which means it can take off in the air instead of running on the ground, reducing the need for runways.
Although the Blackbird has six rotors, Kinsky said it ‘can continue to fly under control’ if one of them fails.
In the near future, Blackbird owners can use the vehicle on their travels, parking on high-altitude slopes or dedicated ground surfaces.
The company says: ‘The new BlackBird demonstrator, with a maximum weight of 340 kg, is now in development and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024’
Soon, Blackbird owners will be able to use the vehicle for their commute, parking on elevated decks or dedicated parking spaces.
Alternatively, passengers can hail the airline on their smartphone, paying a fee for a short ride across the city like Uber or Lyft.
CycloTech is one of many companies aiming to make flying cars a reality, including British companies Vertical Aerospace and Bellwether.
Slovakian company KleinVision is working on an AirCar contraption that looks like a racing car until it pulls out its retractable wings.
Sitting in a hybrid car, French musician Jean-Michel Jarre and a pilot flew around two miles in 10 minutes at Piešťany airport in Slovakia on April 12 this year.
Meanwhile, Netherlands-based Electron Aviation plans to launch a ‘sky-hailing service’ similar to Uber that users can book through an app.
Electron Aviation’s fleet of 186mph (300kph) electric taxis is expected to take place in the Netherlands and the UK in 2027.
