AeroMobil

All Hail the Flying Taxi

AeroMobil reveals a new door-to-door solution for the sky, this time offering more space for those on board.

With the race on to launch the world’s first flying car, developers are coming up with ever more futuristic concepts to take to the skies. One of the latest to hit the headlines is the four-seater AM Next by AeroMobil, which follows the reveal of its Pegasus-inspired AM4.0 model in 2017. Expected to take flight within the next five years, the aerial ride-hailing service will offer significant time-savings on regional routes in the 100 to 500-mile range, which are too far to drive and too short, or inconvenient, to fly.

Accommodating a pilot, three passengers and their luggage, the concept offers door-to-door travel, removing the need to switch modes of transport or wait between services. The small passenger numbers also ensure contact with others is kept to a minimum, which has become increasingly important in the current climate. Once up in the air – 10,000ft at cruising altitude – passengers have the space to work, rest or simply enjoy the view from the comfort of their reclining seat, with facilities including a cellular signal and an onboard entertainment system.

Like AM4.0, the AM Next is thought to have advantages over other Advanced Air Mobility solutions in that it will use existing infrastructure for take-off and landing. The vehicle also meets current automotive and aviation regulations and boasts a considerably greater range than eVTOL craft.

AeroMobil’s vehicles are the result of over ten years of research and development and make use of cuttingedge automotive and aerospace engineering, advanced materials and luxury features. Transforming between modes in less than three minutes, they are described by the firm as supercars that can fly, light aircraft that can be driven. “Following AM4.0, the world’s first production flying car, AM Next is set to disrupt and democratise the regional travel market,” says AeroMobil CEO Patrick Hessel. “We will leverage AM4.0’s proof of concept and premium branding into AM Next’s massmarket aerial service.”

In bringing the concept to market, AeroMobil plans to manage the service through a booking app designed by its team of in-house engineers. The two-seater prototype is currently touring in the States, offering viewings for investors, operators and private buyers.