, which plans to provide air-taxi transport across Paris at the Olympics next summer, gave a preview of its electric aircraft. While only test pilots were allowed, the two-passenger 2X exhibited a maximum speed of 68 mph with its 18 rotors and electric engines. The sight of the eVTOL on the outskirts of Paris skies is not new, since Volocopter has been doing test flights in the region for more than a year.
Unlike its competitors, this will be self-driving and have a range of 90 miles with a cruise speed between 110 and 129 knots. The company became a fully owned subsidiary of Boeing earlier this year, giving it access to the airframer’s R&D, testing, and certification expertise. The air taxi will have space for four passengers and their luggage. The company expects its air taxis to be mainstream by the end of the decade.