The issue with flying taxis is that most of them are simply modified helicopters. For instance, the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft from Applied eVTOL Concept can fly, but their unique design means they can’t function as regular cars. That’s what makes the Pegasus-E from the Australian company Aerospace Corp so remarkable.
The Pegasus-E is a hybrid multimodal vehicle and one of the first of its kind to be put into practice. The Pegasus project began in 2009, and after several successful tests, the company presented its new design in 2021. Finally, last year, the Melbourne Police decided to adopt them and create a police version of this flying car.
Aerospace’s vehicle is an electric car with a range of 300 miles and the ability to reach a speed of up to 75 mph, enough to be driven on the road normally.
It also has propellers that enable it to take off and fly at a maximum speed of 100 mph. It has a range of about three hours, a cruising speed of approximately 80 mph, and can reach a maximum altitude of 6,000 feet. In comparison, most VTOLs, being electric, only offer a range of around 35 minutes.
Recharging the vehicle is also convenient. As a hybrid car, it can be charged electrically for ground travel and refilled with gas for the tank used during flights.
Interestingly, the design of the Pegasus-E allows it to be parked in a regular parking lot, like any other car. In a traffic jam, drivers could use the Pegasus-E to fly and avoid it altogether.
Currently, the Pegasus-E isn’t yet available for purchase because it requires a pilot’s license in addition to a driver’s license.
However, it’s not just a prototype. The Pegasus-E is a real car that has been licensed by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is currently seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aerospace’s plan is to have the vehicle ready for sale by the end of 2024 after successful piloting with local police.
The Pegasus-E is a single-seat vehicle, but the company is also developing a similar model with four seats, set to be revealed later this year. The car is 9.5 feet (2.9 meters) long and 6 feet (1.9 meters) tall. It weighs about 584 pounds 265 kg (265 kg) and can carry a maximum weight of 223 pounds (101 kg).
Aerospace’s flying car fulfills many of the expectations we have for VTOLs. The company will announce its future plans at the upcoming CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
This article was written by Enrique Pérez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.
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