"Flying car" A test flight that lifts people to an altitude of 30m Oita

"Flying cars" are being developed as a next-generation means of transportation.

On the 17th, a test flight with people was carried out in Oita City.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, it is the first time for a manned test flight to be conducted outdoors, where permission is required.

"Flying cars" are expected to be next-generation familiar vehicles that apply technology such as drones and are characterized by "electricity" and "vertical takeoff and landing", and the development competition among manufacturers around the world is intensifying. .

On the 17th, with the cooperation of Oita City, which has high hopes for the use of "flying cars," MASC, a general incorporated association made up of small and medium-sized enterprises in Okayama Prefecture, will conduct a test on the coast of the city to check ride comfort. made a flight.

The aircraft used was an aircraft called "EH216" manufactured by a Chinese manufacturer owned by the group.

With a length and width of 5 meters and 60 centimeters, and a height of 1 meter and 70 centimeters, it is equipped with 16 propellers and is a two-seater.

The test flight was conducted after taking safety measures such as prohibiting people from entering the surrounding area, and when two people involved in the group boarded, the aircraft took off vertically to an altitude of 30 meters.

It was designed to fly at a speed of 10 meters per second in a circular motion of 345 meters over the sea, returning to the airspace above the take-off and landing point and flying vertically for about three and a half minutes.

In Japan, in 2020, a Japanese manufacturer will release a manned test flight that floats to a height of about 2 meters in a test site. This is the first time that a car will fly with people on board.

Koji Kirino, the chairman of MASC, said, "When I boarded, I felt like an astronaut with a mixture of anxiety and joy. I felt like I was on board. I expect that development and business will accelerate further."

For those of you who saw the test flight...

A fifth-grade boy from a nearby elementary school who visited the test flight said, "I like cars, so I get excited when I see a 'flying car.' So I thought, 'I wonder if future technology will be like this.' I definitely want to ride it."

In addition, Mr. Haruji Hashimoto, Manager of Oita City's Urban Transportation Policy Division, said, "Maintaining public transportation in Oita City is also an issue. I would like to proceed with efforts to secure the

"Flying cars" that manufacturers around the world are competing to develop

"Flying cars" that fly with people and things by applying technology such as drones.

Although there is no clear definition, it is an aircraft characterized by "electric" and "vertical takeoff and landing", which is also called "eVTOL".

Compared to conventional aircraft and helicopters, it is said to reduce operating costs, noise, and carbon dioxide emissions. Expected.

The Yano Research Institute, a private research firm, predicts that by 2050, the scale of the aircraft market alone will grow to over 120 trillion yen worldwide, and the development competition among manufacturers around the world is intensifying. .

Among Japanese manufacturers, "SkyDrive", which was founded by former Toyota Motor Corporation, released a manned test flight in August 2020 that floats to a height of about 2 meters in the test site.

In October 2018, we applied for type certification to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for a two-seater aircraft with 12 propellers that looks like an enlarged drone and is intended for urban movement.

In Japan, Honda and others have also revealed that they are developing aircraft.

On the other hand, the American venture company "Joby Aviation" is developing a five-seater aircraft that has both propellers and wings and is intended for relatively long-distance transportation.

We have partnered with ANA Holdings with the aim of operating in Japan, and in October last year we applied for type certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Germany's "Volocopter" is aiming for commercial operation in Paris, where the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held next year.

In addition to conducting test flights with people in places such as Singapore, we have released a concept model of an airfield that allows procedures to be performed using facial recognition, and we are considering participating in business in Japan in partnership with Japan Airlines. I'm here.

In addition, China's "Yihan", which manufactured the aircraft used in this test flight, has repeated more than 30,000 test flights of automatic operation aircraft in China and other countries, so in the future, I would like to introduce it to the sightseeing flight.

Japan Considers Efforts for “Air Mobility Revolution”

“Flying cars” are accelerating the development competition around the world.

In Japan, a council made up of the government and business operators is considering efforts to promote the introduction of the system under the name of "Air Mobility Revolution."

Among them, the safety of the aircraft, the strength of the takeoff and landing field, the charging facility, the license of the pilot and the mechanic, as well as the system related to operation are being discussed, and the direction will be shown next month. outlook.

The council has set a goal of commercial flights carrying people at the Osaka/Kansai World Expo the year after next, and after that, it is said that the range of utilization will be expanded, such as transportation and emergency services in urban and rural areas.

On the other hand, regarding "flying cars", it has been pointed out that there are issues such as technological development for improving safety, maintenance of takeoff and landing fields in highly convenient locations, and whether social understanding will advance. I'm here.

Expert: "In the future, it can become a popularized air vehicle"

Kan Nakano, a member of the council and an advisor to Keio University's Institute of System Design and Management, said, ``Flying cars will become popularized in the future. There is a wide range of peripheral industries, such as manufacturing parts and construction of airfields, and there is a possibility that a large market will be created that approaches the automobile industry as a business."

Regarding the challenges for introducing the system, he said, "First of all, it is important to prove that safety can be ensured and obtain the government's approval. After that, if the flight is repeated and a track record is accumulated, the understanding of society will advance. I wonder if I'll go," he pointed out.