There are many companies that have launched into the creation of electric mobility flying alternatives that are still in the initial phases. However, some brands have managed to reach the last part of their development and are ready to take flight. This is the case of the firm Rotor X with its new Dragon, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle) that comes from the United States.
And it is that the best part of this proposal is that it is not an advanced prototype, but a vehicle that is already in a condition to fly and for which orders can already be placed. While many companies in this sector focus on small aircraft for commercial air taxi services, others such as Rotor X seek to offer a means of personal owned transportation.
Manufactured on an aluminum structure, the Dragon has the capacity to carry a maximum weight of 113 kg. With a fully charged battery, it can fly for up to 20 minutes non-stop and requires less than two hours to recharge. Powered by eight 16 kW electric motors, this proposal can fly at a speed of up to 100 km/h.
The vehicle has a flight control system to manage the motors and batteries. Its main functions include automatic take-off and landing as well as hands-off return to hover and position-holding. An important factor to note about the Dragon is that it does not come from a start-up start-up but from an experienced manufacturer in the helicopter industry.
This is reflected in specific elements such as the energy absorbing helicopter landing gear as well as the overall design, which benefits from the company’s experience with the A600 helicopter model. Rotor X has also fitted the Dragon with multiple safety features, including a ballistic parachute and a roll cage.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that its engines are designed to provide enough power to keep the vehicle suspended in the air even if two of the eight engines are not running. When purchased, the Dragon comes as a quick build kit and is designed to be easily disassembled and transported, for example, in the bed of a pick-up or van.
The North American company has already completed the unmanned flight tests and will complete the piloted ones next month. Meanwhile, the Dragon is already on the market for a price of around 80,000 euros. It is possible to make pre-reservations with a deposit of 18,000 euros.
The first units are scheduled to be delivered to the owners during the next year 2024. To see the Dragon in full flight, all you have to do is take a look at the video that accompanies this article.
