Volocopter has shown the first footage from its full-size air taxi prototype’s maiden test flight.
Called VoloCity, the flight of the air taxi is a big step for the company toward its goal of launching a commercialized fleet of aircraft that will be a new generation of consumer transportation and cargo delivery.
Ultimately, the company wants to have air taxis fully operational before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Pilot testing of the air taxis for the Olympics has already begun and the goal will be to establish two flight paths for the air taxis to transport visitors in the densely populated city during the international event, which has about 6 million attendees normally.
Groupe ADP and RATP Group will test electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flying air taxis at the Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin airfield in Paris. Participating air taxi vendors include Volocopter, Airbus, Vertical Aerospace and Ascendance, Lilium and Joby Aviation — all startups that are currently developing fleets of air taxis.
Last month, Volocopter said it had started testing on its own for use of its air taxis at the games. The company spent a week at Pontoise airfield, located to the northwest of Paris, and working with French partners about the steps needed to be taken before the launch date.
The flight took place in December and was performed in Bruchsal, Germany. Prior to this maiden journey, Volocopter had conducted more than 1,500 test flights.