- Title: Personal electric aircraft takes to Tokyo's skies
- Date: 17th May 2024
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MAY 17, 2024) (REUTERS) PILOT GESTURING / ROTORS STARTING TO TURN ROTORS GETTING UP TO SPEED HEXA AIRCRAFT LIFTING OFF HEXA AIRCRAFT CLIMBING ROTORS OF HEXA AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT VARIOUS OF HEXA AIRCRAFT TURNING IN FLIGHT AUDIENCE WATCHING DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT PILOT SEATED IN AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT PILOT'S FEET IN FLIGHT PILOT GESTURING / AIRCRAFT DESCENDING HEXA AIRCRAFT DESCENDING AIRCRAFT TOUCHING DOWN HEXA AIRCRAFT ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIFT AIRCRAFT PILOT, JACE MCCOWN, SAYING: "Very, very simple. The computer handles most of the details including fighting the wind, so when the wind comes along the aircraft will hold the aircraft against it for you, so all you do is say 'I want to go forward' and the aircraft goes forward. Press a button to take off, press a button to land. Very simple." ROTORS OF HEXA AIRCRAFT JOYSTICK OF HEXA AIRCRAFT HEXA AIRCRAFT ON GROUND
- Embargoed: 31st May 2024 12:05
- Keywords: Tokyo Yuriko Koike drone flight flying car personal aircraft technology
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA001337417052024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: An electric aircraft took to the skies of Tokyo on Friday (May 17) for the Japanese capital's first manned demonstration of the technology.
The Hexa aircraft, produced by U.S. firm Lift Aircraft, carried out the demonstration flight as part of a startup and innovation conference being held in Tokyo.
Lift Aircraft describes the Hexa as being an aircraft that "anyone can fly", that uses electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology.
"All you do is say 'I want to go forward' and the aircraft goes forward. Press a button to take off, press a button to land. Very simple," said demonstration pilot Jace McCown.
According to Lift Aircraft, the Hexa has eighteen independent electric motors and propellers for stable, controlled flight, and is capable of landing on both land and water thanks to its five floats. It weighs only 432lbs (196 kg) due to its carbon fiber airframe and is equipped with safety features including an autonomous ballistic parachute and the ability to fly and land safely even with up to six motors disabled.
In March, LIFT Aircraft launched the first eVTOL pay-per-flight customer experience. As part of this new service, customers undergo approximately two hours of comprehensive ground training, including the use of a virtual reality flight simulator, before piloting the HEXA aircraft themselves under the guidance of experienced flight instructors. This initiative is part of a broader U.S. tour, with operations starting at Florida's Lakeland Linder Airport and continuing in Austin, Texas, with future expansions into other cities planned.
(Production: Tom Bateman) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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