Not to be outdone by Hyundai and other startups entering the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) game, European aerospace company Airbus has revealed the CityAirbus NextGen. Utilizing a “lift and cruise” concept, the aeronautics giant believes that the prototype will be perfect for air travel in cities and suburbs.
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With a wingspan of 39 feet (12 meters), the CitiAirbus NextGen is by no means small, but its fixed wings and V-shaped tail have all been designed with quiet flight in mind, Airbus says. The shape will also allow the electric vehicle to reach a cruising speed of 75 mph (120 km/h).
Eight electric-powered propellers help the prototype rise vertically from the ground and move horizontally in the air, and Airbus is aiming for a range of 50 miles (80 km). This, it says, will make it ideal for use in big cities. The company also mentions that it is collaborating with its airline partners to ensure its practicality and usefulness to them.
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The operational configuration includes one pilot accompanied by three passengers seated in a banked arrangement at the rear of the cabin.
“Rolling out CityAirbus NextGen for the very first time is an important and very real step that we are taking towards advanced air mobility and our future product and market,” said Balkiz Sarihan, Airbus’s head of urban mobility. “Thank you to our community, team and partners all over the world for helping us make this a reality.”
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Alongside the CityAirbus NextGen, the company took the opportunity to present the Donauwoerth, Germany, test center to the world. The location will be dedicated to testing systems for eVTOLs.
In operation since December, it will be used to prepare the CityAirbus NextGen for its maiden flight, which is set to take place later this year. The company plans to test the eVTOL’s electric motors, its rotors, flight controls, avionics, and other systems.
Airbus says it is committed to meeting the highest safety standards, and is working with regulators to ensure that every part of the CityAirbus NextGen is ready for passengers. Although it will be equipped with an automated flight mode, initial flights will be handled by a pilot in order to make sure that the technology is developed responsibly.