The Munich-based German startup Lilium has completed the first phase of flight tests of the promising electric Lilium Jet convertible plan, during which a basic check of the operation of on-board systems and electric motors was carried out. According to the company, now Aerotaxi has started flying at speeds of more than 100 km per hour.
The development of Lilium Jet air taxi has been underway since 2017. In the same year, the full-size prototype taxi made its first flight, and in May of this year, the developers took to the air the pre-production version of the aircraft.
Lilium Jet received two fixed wings on which rotary electric fans are installed. 12 such electric fans are located on the front wing and 24 on the rear. Thanks to a change in the installation angle of the fans, air taxi can take off and land vertically, as well as perform the fast horizontal flight.
According to the project, air taxi will be able to fly at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. The flight range of the device on a full charge of batteries will be about 300 kilometres. Aerotaxi is made in five places: four seats – for passengers and one – for the pilot. Lilium plans to deploy a commercial taxi service in Germany from 2025.
To date, in addition to completing the first phase of the Lilium Jet flight test, the Lilium startup has also completed the construction of the first air taxi assembly plant. The area of the enterprise in Munich is 3 thousand square meters. In addition, the company began construction of a second assembly plant.
Earlier, the British startup Vertical Aerospace announced the start of flight tests of the promising Seraph electric lifting electric air taxi. This unit is designed to carry passengers and goods weighing up to 250 kilograms.
