Photo: Volocopter
The second week of December was a memorable time for numerous children in Osaka, Japan. They got to witness firsthand the first local flight of a futuristic-shaped eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing), the Volocopter electric air taxi.
The 2025 World Exposition (Osaka Kansai Expo) is gearing up to be one of the most exciting editions of all time, which will go down in history for bridging the gap between conventional and Urban Air Mobility.
Several air taxis from across the globe are expected to demonstrate electric flights for everyone attending the event, and one of them is the German Volocopter, maker of the VoloCity passenger eVTOL.
This type of project requires a great deal of preparation and testing, which is why Volocopter carried out an extensive flight test campaign from December 7 to 13. The Volocopter 2X, which is the technology demonstrator for the VoloCity, took to the sky in Osaka and Amagasaki with pilots in the cockpit.
The main location was the Osaka Heliport because it's close to the location of the actual Expo event that's taking place in 2025. The final test day was transformed into a large-scale event attended by numerous local officials, industry partners, and media representatives. Most importantly, hundreds of kids also got to attend the eVTOL final flight. Their pure enthusiasm was the best part, according to Volocopter's managing director, Christian Bauer.
And things didn't stop there. The primary and secondary school students also participated in the Q&A session at the event. The reason is that the German manufacturer and the local authorities in Osaka are also working on what is called "public awareness of eVTOL aircraft" in Japan. Preparing for upcoming eVTOL operations is not just about regulations and infrastructure but also about communicating with the local communities.
This recent flight test campaign was the culmination of a collaboration between Volocopter and Japan that started in 2022. Plus, earlier this year, a full-scale static model of the VoloCity aircraft was displayed in a shopping mall in Osaka. The German eVTOL maker also received financial support from local authorities and sponsors to conduct this week-long campaign.
This has probably been one of the most important years for Volocopter so far. Its eVTOL was officially the first one to fly in Saudi Arabia and the first one to fly in New York. The company also opened its production facility in Bruchsal, Germany, and inaugurated a hangar that will become the final assembly line for the VoloCity. The new production center is expected to roll out 50 units per year.
The two-seat air taxi is close to obtaining a type certification from both EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration).
Several air taxis from across the globe are expected to demonstrate electric flights for everyone attending the event, and one of them is the German Volocopter, maker of the VoloCity passenger eVTOL.
This type of project requires a great deal of preparation and testing, which is why Volocopter carried out an extensive flight test campaign from December 7 to 13. The Volocopter 2X, which is the technology demonstrator for the VoloCity, took to the sky in Osaka and Amagasaki with pilots in the cockpit.
The main location was the Osaka Heliport because it's close to the location of the actual Expo event that's taking place in 2025. The final test day was transformed into a large-scale event attended by numerous local officials, industry partners, and media representatives. Most importantly, hundreds of kids also got to attend the eVTOL final flight. Their pure enthusiasm was the best part, according to Volocopter's managing director, Christian Bauer.
And things didn't stop there. The primary and secondary school students also participated in the Q&A session at the event. The reason is that the German manufacturer and the local authorities in Osaka are also working on what is called "public awareness of eVTOL aircraft" in Japan. Preparing for upcoming eVTOL operations is not just about regulations and infrastructure but also about communicating with the local communities.
This recent flight test campaign was the culmination of a collaboration between Volocopter and Japan that started in 2022. Plus, earlier this year, a full-scale static model of the VoloCity aircraft was displayed in a shopping mall in Osaka. The German eVTOL maker also received financial support from local authorities and sponsors to conduct this week-long campaign.
This has probably been one of the most important years for Volocopter so far. Its eVTOL was officially the first one to fly in Saudi Arabia and the first one to fly in New York. The company also opened its production facility in Bruchsal, Germany, and inaugurated a hangar that will become the final assembly line for the VoloCity. The new production center is expected to roll out 50 units per year.
The two-seat air taxi is close to obtaining a type certification from both EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and FAA (the Federal Aviation Administration).
Google News