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Light Personal Aircraft Ryse Recon Is Like a Flying ATV: Easy to Operate, Versatile

The dream of a flying car is still very much present, if all the startups focusing on eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) are any indication. Ryse Recon wants to be that promised “flying car” of tomorrow, but delivered today.
The Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatile 16 photos
Photo: Ryse Aerotech
The Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatileThe Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatile
Make that “this year:” the Ryse Recon is eyeing a delivery timeline for later this year and, as of mid-January, is taking pre-orders from potential customers. We can all agree that eVTOLs are not flying cars, at least not in the sense imagined by the phrase, but they’re probably the second-best thing.

Designed more like oversized drones with a capacity for one or two passengers, eVTOLs are at the crossroads between development and mass production, and will cross into the latter only once all legislative hurdles are cleared. Or “if” they’re cleared, to be more precise.

Ryse Aerotech is a relatively new startup in this already-crowded segment of the market, but it’s already clocked several impressive achievements, the most recent being a successful appearance at the 2023 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Ryse Recon eVTOL was on site for display purposes and was also taken out for test flights to prove that the technology works as it’s intended to.

The Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatile
Photo: Ryse Aerotech
On the occasion, a promotional video was shot, which you will see in full below. Featuring an Elvis Presley impersonator pilot, it flew over a short distance before landing in front of the CES convention hall. “The King has landed” pops up on the screen at the end of the video, to announce that competing eVTOLs are in for a good run.

Shortly after the appearance, Ryse Aerotech opened up the reservations books for the aircraft, planning to offer the first units to clients in agriculture and sports. The Ryse Recon is described as an ATV that flies, in that it’s both highly versatile and customizable, and easy to operate. The latter is due to the fact that it’s lightweight, flies under a certain speed, and has plenty of redundancy and safety features, which means it can be operated by anyone of driving age, without the need for a pilot’s license.

Put it differently, the Ryse Recon falls in FAA’s ultralight category, so it can be flown by anyone with minimal training, which, in turn, makes it suitable for a large variety of activities, in different fields.

The Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatile
Photo: Ryse Aerotech
The company plans to start by offering it to agriculture workers, as a vehicle for land survey and monitoring, but in time, it could be used as a search and rescue vehicle, for leisure, or even in urban environments as an alternative for the daily commute. For that to happen, though, it would have to be cleared to fly in public spaces, which brings us back to the legal hurdles mentioned above.

For the time being, the Ryse Recon is, like the majority of other eVTOLs, a proposed toy for the rich – and that doesn’t diminish its potential applicability in all the fields mentioned above. Specs listed on the official website mention that it can fly as high as 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), but that it will go no higher than 125 feet (38.1 meters) on the regular, given its limited range. Top speed is restricted at 63 mph (101 kph), while the estimated range is estimated at 25 miles (40 km), at a cruising speed of 35 knots (40.2 mph / 64.8 kph).

Built with an aluminum open frame, the aircraft offers seating for just one person in a carbon fiber, kevlar breakaway safety seat: the aircraft weighs 286 lb (129.7 kg), while the operator must not be heavier than 250 lb (113.3 kg). It relies on six motors and propellers operated independently (for redundancy), coupled to removable batteries. The patent-pending system of batteries aims to compensate for the restrictive range, cutting short charging times to only the few minutes needed to swap the batteries for fresh ones.

The Ryse Recon is described as a flying ATV that doesn't require a pilot's license, is very versatile
Photo: Ryse Aerotech
Operation is done by means of computer assistance and a pair of joysticks, and is guaranteed to be a smooth and easy one even in winds as strong as 22 knots (24.3 mph/40.7 kph). Safety features integrate GNSS/GPS and AHRS with degradation redundancy. For landing on land, the Ryse Recon relies on six fixed legs, with six outrigger floats for landing on water. Fixed wings will be added at a later point, to enhance range and usefulness of the aircraft.

Ryse Aerotech plans to build 100 units this year at its production facility in Ohio, with the goal of ramping up production to 1,000 units in 2024. CEO Mick Kovitz recently told the media that the reservation system is a way to gauge interest in the aircraft and ensure a position in line to anyone interested in it, while keeping them in the loop with all the developments. So far, despite the amount of details shared, there’s no mention of pricing, or as much as a close estimate.

Ryse Recon will be on display at various shows in the U.S. in the summer of 2023.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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