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WatFly’s Atlas eVTOL Is the Future of Personal Flying Cars

Flying cars will hopefully become norm within the next decade, coming to address and firmly resolve issues like traffic congestion and traffic delays, and air pollution. The private luxury sector will be the first to benefit from this improved means of transportation.
The Atlas one-person eVTOL from WatFly 5 photos
Photo: WatFly
The Atlas one-person eVTOL from WatFlyThe Atlas one-person eVTOL from WatFlyThe Atlas one-person eVTOL from WatFlyThe Atlas one-person eVTOL from WatFly
At least, that’s what WatFly co-founder Gonzalo Espinoza Graham believes, as stated in a Medium op-end from earlier this year. WatFly hopes to deliver personal eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft very soon, and the stated goal is to make them as affordable and easy to handle as today’s personal cars.

Before that, though, they will be taking over the market with a one-person luxury flying car.

Enter Atlas, the first one in a series of proposed eVTOLs. This one is expected to become available next year, for the starting price of $150,000, paving the way for the development of more affordable but still as efficient flying cars.

Atlas is made of carbon fiber and weighs 285 pounds (129 kg). It is powered by wing-mounted batteries that take 2 hours to fully charge and deliver a flying time of one hour – and 15 minutes of hover time. The Atlas can reach speeds of 125 mph (201 kph) and carry a total payload of 250 pounds (113 kg). It has ample leg room and storage room at the back, so it’s ideal for ferrying you and your luggage safely and quickly to your vacation spot, whether it’s skiing or surfing.

The Atlas doesn’t require runways to land or take off, so it effectively eliminates the issue of last-mile transport. Even more importantly, because it’s certified as an Ultralight Air Vehicle, it doesn’t require a pilot’s license to fly: WatFly says the “tailored” training course they’re offering should be enough to get you in the air and back down again in complete safety. This and the collision-avoidance systems on board, of course.

Being a certified UAV means the Atlas can’t fly over congested urban areas, through specific airspaces or for commercial purposes.

According to the maker, the Atlas is also silent and has fast control inputs, which renders every trip enjoyable. The canopy wraparound in the cabin offers “more than 180-degrees of breathtaking visibility,” which means you can “just keep enjoying the journey while the flight computer handles the controls.”

If that sounds like the kind of promising future you’re hoping for and you’ve got cash to spare, WatFly is taking pre-orders on the Atlas.
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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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