Feature

From science fiction to reality – what is driving urban air mobility?

Urban air mobility (UAM) – or flying cars – is no longer the stuff of science fiction. In fact, the reality is much closer than many realise, with some industry players citing plans to start operating as early as 2024. David Latimer, CEO of Magnomatics, explains what makes this possible.

30/06/2022 11:25:24

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Joby Aviation, a California-based company developing all-electric aircraft for aerial ridesharing, recently announced that it has sufficient cash to fund its initial commercial operations.

The
company also recently announced the certification of its second pre-production prototype to accelerate flight testing. Its first pre-production prototype has completed what is believed to be the
longest flight of an electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to date – it flew 154 miles on a single charge. This first aircraft was
lost after a crash on 16 February whilst pushing its high-speed flight envelope.

However, Joby still expects to start operations of its quiet, all-electric aircraft with a
pilot and four passengers in 2024, creating possibly the first eVTOL airline.

Joby is not the only company in this space...

Read the full article in DPA's July issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.