The Future of Commuting? Watch the First Flight of Lilium’s First-Ever All-Electric VTOL Jet

April 22, 2017 5:00 am
The Lilium Jet Just Completed Its First Successful Test Flight
(Lilium)

 

The future of air travel may be taking flight.

No, it’s not a pristine U.S.S. Flagg or some far-off concept car. This is the freshly test-flown Lilium Jet, the first-ever all-electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.

Billed as an “air taxi for up to five people” by Lilium, the jet—which looks like an upgrade on the vehicle Roger Moore’s Bond flew in the opening credits of Octopussy—has been in the works since 1894, when semi-namesake Otto Lilienthal started mapping out the plans for it. It’s just now been brought to fruition, but it was worth the wait.

The obvious win here is for commuters, who could potentially shave hours off of costly commutes in company cars, business jets, or helicopters. (It’s top speed is about 186 mph.)

The company took its jet to an airfield near Munich, Germany, this month for its maiden voyage. Watch the stunning results below.

—RealClearLife

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