By DAISUKE MATSUOKA/ Staff Writer
March 15, 2023 at 18:42 JST
OSAKA–-A piloted test flight of a “flying car” here on March 14 was judged a success and a step toward making its first commercial flight in Japan at the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo.
The single seater was launched to a height of about eight meters, and it completed vertical and circular aerial maneuvers.
“I’m relieved,” said a project team member. “It’s the first step toward offering flights to passengers.”
In the two-day demonstration, engineers measured noise levels and checked how wind affected the flight, according to Marubeni Corp., which will fly the aircraft in the expo.
It was the first manned test flight of the vehicle in Osaka, according to the company.
The flying car, called HEXA, is the creation of U.S. startup Lift Aircraft Inc.
At 4.5 meters in width and 2.4 meters in height, the electric aircraft can fly for up to 15 minutes with a maximum speed of 100 kph.
Marubeni and three other contractors will fly visitors between Yumeshima, the main venue, and downtown Osaka during the expo.
The transport ministry is working to introduce safety and traffic regulations for the aircraft by March 2024.
Tokyo start-up shows off manned flight of its flying car
September 2, 2020
Body structure of sunfish seen as way to build aircraft of future
September 28, 2020
SkyDrive says it started test flights of flying car with driver
January 21, 2020
Man booted off domestic flight for yelling and refusing to wear a mask
September 9, 2020
Daughter, son of crew of ‘Tragic Wings’ wartime flight reunited
December 23, 2021
Stories about memories of cherry blossoms solicited from readers
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series on the death of a Japanese woman that sparked a debate about criminal justice policy in the United States
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
A piloted “flying car” hovers against the backdrop of Osaka Castle in Osaka’s Chuo Ward on March 14. (Nobuhiro Shirai)
