The generations that preceded us imagined that at this very moment we would all be flying around in flying cars. Is that so? Well, not necessarily. Cars in our world fly mainly when they inadvertently go straight “on a roundabout”, without missing an island. But… individuals can now order their own electric vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing: as a real product with a price list, training included in the purchase and a specific delivery date. Yes. A flying vehicle “for everyone” is no longer a pipe dream. But also not some super-available thing.
eVTOL-e (acronym for: electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) are electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically. A bit like a helicopter, but structurally it is often a machine with many small electric motors and wings. It generates less noise, requires fewer mechanical parts in its design and promises lower operating costs. In the case of Pivotal, we are talking about only 18 moving parts – which in the world of aviation is almost complete asceticism.
The technology has been developing for over a decade. The company began testing in 2011, when its founder Marcus Leng made the first flight of a prototype called BlackFly. Subsequent iterations led to the creation of the Helix model – the first structure designed from the beginning as a product capable of scaling. That’s the way it is: prototypes show that something works, and products are created so that someone pays for them. The so-called “proof of concept”, or in Polish nomenclature: “proof of validity”, is absolutely necessary in the case of such initiatives.
A private air vehicle instead of a flying taxi
Most companies developing eVTOLs focus on air taxis for cities. Pivotal went in a different direction – creating a single-seater vehicle for private use and short flights. Instead of large solutions for a specific infrastructure/sphere, it will first reach the hands of enthusiasts. It was the same with personal computers.
Helix costs from approx. PLN 190,000. dollars (approx. PLN 760 thousand). The optional transport trailer is approx. PLN 21,000. dollars (~PLN 84,000), a charger – approx. 1.1 thousand dollars (~PLN 4.5 thousand). Once ordered, delivery may take up to 9 to 12 months. The price is amazing, the complexity is high and the overall entry cost is quite high. But it’s still less than buying your own helicopter, obtaining a license, arranging its storage, insurance, service and so on.
In the USA, a pilot does not need to have a standard license. The machine is classified as an ultralight aircraft (Part 103 in the USA). This means flights usually below approximately 60 meters altitude and in less regulated airspace. Europe is more restrictive in this respect.
What is the use of this eVTOL like?
Helix has a flight range of approximately 30 minutes and a cruising speed of approximately 100 km/h. Landing from a 240 V installation takes approximately 75 minutes. You can fly around with it, but forget about transport between cities. For short distances it makes sense, but if we were to fly it, e.g. from Rzeszów to Sandomierz, forget it. You will fly about 50 kilometers in a straight line and… you need to recharge. There is no way out.
The noise during takeoff and landing has been compared to leaf blowers. In flight, the sound can be virtually inaudible on the ground. The first users already exist and are playing with this equipment. One of them performed approximately 1,200 flights in over 100 US locations. For now, it won’t make a splash, but let’s remember that technology is developing. If such an eVTOL could reach, say, 150 km/h and could fly for 2-3 hours non-stop, it would become a really interesting option.
From recreation to military and emergency services
Pivotal plans to develop the business in three areas: private, public security and defense. Already in 2023, eight units were sent for testing by the US Air Force team and MTSI.
Potential applications include rapid reconnaissance, medical transport and support for rescue operations in hard-to-reach places. The short range then ceases to be a disadvantage. If you need to get there faster than by ambulance in a traffic jam, a 30-minute flight will be enough.
Of course, there are also concerns. The airspace above cities is already crowded today. Adding new vehicle classes without proper traffic management can create a bit of chaos. We have learned a lesson straight from orbit, where regulations do not exist and everyone does whatever they want. Scientists suffer from it, projects suffer from it, and sometimes a piece of a satellite falls into someone’s house… so the matter must be approached carefully.
Will everyone one day have such an eVTOL?
For now, Helix is a product for wealthy enthusiasts. The history of technology tends to repeat a certain pattern: expensive toys for the elite, then equipment for professionals, and finally a consumer product. This has been the case with virtually every common device. However, the scale of production and social acceptance pose a problem. The technology is already there. But will people want to share the sky with hundreds of private machines? And… what about regulations?
Read also: Hybrid VTOL looks like an Imperial speeder from Star Wars
We’ll probably find out in a decade or two. However, we can already see a certain direction in which the matter will develop. For now, I prefer my car, which I will use to travel from Rzeszów to Sandomierz, mostly via S and the Stalowa Wola bypass. I’ll kick it up a bit, I won’t leave the ground, but I certainly won’t complain about the range, which is about 1,000 kilometers on a full tank of diesel fluid.
