Brazilian flying car passes first tests; know what's coming
Flying cars (known as eVTOL) have taken another step towards everyday use in cities. Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary company of Embraer, announced this Thursday (21) that it has successfully completed the test phase involving hovering flights - when they are stopped in the air - and low speed flights.
59 tests were carried out that met the team's expectations and provided information on the ability to carry loads, aerodynamics, propulsion and the energy management necessary to maintain the vehicle.
The objective is to improve the models to pass flight transition tests - the most challenging phase in the development of new aeronautical technologies that consists of testing the moment in which the aircraft leaves vertical flight mode and switches to horizontal flight mode.
In hover flights, the eVTOL managed to reach 65.5 meters in height and remain in flight for 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
The aircraft showed good performance in low-speed flights, at 27.78 km/h, which were increased to 37.04 km/h horizontal speed, with maneuvers to test aerodynamics and load support.
The first tests of automatic landings and a safety layer that are activated when the main mode is not available were also carried out.
According to Eve Air Mobility, in the coming weeks the aircraft will undergo tests that will prepare it for transition flights - which should begin in the second half of 2026.
eVTOL, from Eve Air Mobility - Embraer
More than 2,900 reservation requests
An eVTOL demonstration flight was carried out in March, on the Embraer runway in Gavião Peixoto, in the interior of SP, with the presence of President Lula.
The flying car will have capacity for 5 people - 4 passengers and the pilot - and is equipped with eight electric motors in the wings and one in the rear. In vertical and horizontal flights it will have a range of 100 km.
eVTOL, from Eve Air Mobility - Embraer
The eVTOL completed an unmanned flight for the first time in December last year, and the test program will take place throughout 2026. The aircraft is expected to be ready by 2027.
The production unit for the Eve Air Mobility flying car will be in Taubaté, in the interior of São Paulo.
The company has already received more than 2,900 reservation requests from 30 customers in 13 countries, representing a potential of US$14.5 billion (around R$72.6) in revenue. The expectation is to produce up to 480 aircraft per year.
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*With information from Thiago Ventura, in collaboration with CNN Brasil
Source: CNN