If there was any time for people to rejoice over the future of our favorite fantasies like flying cars, then now is the right time. Larry Page, the tech guru of Silicon Valley, and Alphabet CEO, has backed Kitty Hawk – the first flying electric aircraft.
The start-up itself is led by former Google employee Sebastian Thrun who first came up with the idea for the Google self-driving car. On his Twitter, Thrun had publicly unveiled the project, called the Flyer electric aircraft. He then shared the link to the company website and also mentioned how the new product will change “the future of personal transportation”.
The tweet also showed a working prototype of the product that shows the single-seating Flyer in action. It has been promised that the final version of the product will be available for purchase by budding solo flying enthusiasts by the end of the year. According to the Daily Mail, the Flyer weighs just about 100kg and can go as fast as 40kmph. It was also revealed that the financial backing that went behind the development of the product was a massive $100 million sponsored solely by Larry Page. The prototype shown can fly up to 10 metres high.
The final version of the product will look far different than the prototype and the test pilot who had piloted the prototype stated that it was a lot like riding a flying bike. According to her, the controls function in the same way a game controller would, with the buttons and knobs being attached to the handlebar. The product can take off and land vertically as well, and is powered 100 percent by electricity and eight rotors which assist the user to take flight.
According to Mashable, the company has offered a discount of $2000 off the product once it goes on sale later this year, but only if buyers are willing to provide an initial deposit of $100. This means that the product might actually cost the same as one of the higher-end bikes on the market. In fact, Kitty Hawk is going through regulations and air control with the FAA and it seems likely that it will get the clean chit in order to authorize manned vehicular travel in air. For the cost of a motorcycle, and being to ride above everyone else, it still seems like a steal.
It is not perfect by any means, but it is the perfect way to start a series brand new air ventures.
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