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The next chapter of sustainable air travel has taken flight — and in 10 years, it could be part of your everyday commute.
Austrian aviation company CycloTech recently began flight testing its personal electric vertical takeoff and landing — or eVTOL — aircraft prototype. Dubbed the BlackBird, the demonstrator’s inaugural flight, according to the company, marks “a major milestone in our mission to revolutionize air mobility.”
In a video documenting the flight, CycloTech chief technology officer Tahsin Kart said it took 11 months to bring the BlackBird from concept to first flight. And while the first “flight” was more of a hovering liftoff, it still represents a step forward for the company’s tech.
The BlackBird prototype is propelled by CycloRotors — barrel-shaped rotors inspired by maritime propellers. These rotors have blades designed to change angle as they spin, allowing the aircraft to quickly move in any direction without needing to turn its body.
The BlackBird prototype uses six CycloRotors — four mounted horizontally and two vertically — to facilitate vertical takeoff and landing. These rotors also help the aircraft stop midair while staying stable, even in tough flying conditions.
In its inaugural flight, the BlackBird was unmanned and controlled remotely by technicians. The aircraft was intended as a technology demonstrator, validating the abilities of CycloTech’s CycloRotor propulsion system for its larger project, the CruiseUp.
