LILIUM'S REVOLUTIONARY, NEW eVTOL

Flying Taxi Has 30 Tilting Jet Fans To Fly

                                    Source:  Lilium

Radical New Aviation Technology

At the recent Farmborough Air Show in the UK, Munich-based eVTOL startup Lilium unveiled its 6 passenger and 1 pilot new eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle).  The electric flying machine has 30 tilting jet fans to lift off, fly and land. It is revolutionary aviation technology that Lilium hopes to have European certification to fly commercially by 2025.  Lilium is collaborating with a global leader in aircraft systems and cabin design, Diehl Aviation to finalize the vehicle.

Timeframe and Tech Specs

Lilium is significantly accelerating the testing and development of the eVTOL.  The company has faced some criticism for slippage in its time frames.  5th generation eVTOL demonstrators are currently undergoing testing at Lilium facilities in Spain. The company is also working on next-generation battery technology systems to expand range in the air.  The 30 jet fans are distributed across the aircraft's 4 wings.  They swivel to provide both vertical and horizontal thrust. Currently, the eVTOL is capable of speeds up to 300 mph and can connect cities 150 miles apart.  The aircraft's wings are unconventional.  It's called a canard arrangement, which is used by US aircraft designer Burt Rutan, who designed SpaceShipOne, a space plane (that is still under development) for the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.  Both the fore and aft wings of the eVTOL provide lift.  

Business Plans

Lilium has plenty of business lined up.  It plans to provide regional air taxi services throughout Florida.  And, when it gets cleared for European air taxi service in 2025, it plans to immediately start building eVTOLs for customers like NetJets and Brazil's Azul Airlines.  For more news stories like this, The Future of Flying

 

... ...