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3D commuting, that’s the dream. Soaring over stopped traffic in a lightweight, quiet, safe personal eVTOL aircraft. The Velocitor X-1 joins a growing list of such machines, and it’s slated to enter production within a year.
The X-1 is being developed by Michigan-based startup Velo X Aerospace, which is now taking $5,000 deposits on an initial run of 100 aircraft that are slated to begin production in the first quarter of 2027. The total price of each of those first 100 is US$156,000.
Like a number of similar eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, the single-passenger X-1 utilizes eight electric motor/propeller modules mounted coaxially on the ends of four arms.
These allow it to takeoff and land vertically, and autonomously hover in place (via GPS) like a helicopter. It can also cruise forward at a speed of 70 mph (112 km/h). One six-hour charge of its battery pack is claimed to be good for one hour of flight time, along with a 15-minute reserve.
The X-1’s flight system combines pilot input with automation – it should be considerably easier than flying a regular ol’ drone, since you don’t have to worry about orientation when you’re sitting in the cockpit. According to Velo X, “If you can handle a side-by-side, a snowmobile, or a motorcycle, you can fly this aircraft.”
Safety features include a LOWAS (LiDAR obstacle warning and avoidance system) that detects and avoids obstacles such as power lines and trees. There’s also a distributed electric propulsion system in which multiple propellers, motors, controllers, and batteries ensure that no single point of failure can’t be compensated for.
If the X-1 falls from the sky anyways, the sudden loss of control should trigger the release of a ballistic parachute – even at an altitude as low as 50 ft (15 m). If the landing is still a bit rough, the pilot will be helped by an “ultra-strong” composite seat with a four-point harness.
“We have flown three different platforms to date,” Velo X president Galen Geigley tells New Atlas. “Our current test platform is in the middle of upgrades right now with new-style propellers and higher-performance motors. Flight testing will resume in the coming weeks.”
He adds that 56 of the first 100 Velociter X-1s have been claimed already … so if you want one of the remaining 44, you’d better head on over to the company website and plunk down your five grand.
Will you be able to glide over traffic? Probably not, if we’re being honest. Velo’s website has a cute little nod to certification, stating “we continue building, refining, and validating the aircraft under the evolving FAA MOSAIC powered lift framework. Our team works directly with industry leaders to ensure every component meets or exceeds the standards for this new class of personal aircraft.”
This powered lift framework is the one under which high-tech behemoths like Joby and Archer are working toward type certification for their 5-seat eVTOL air taxis – an insanely expensive and difficult certification designed to ensure eVTOLs are as safe as airliners.
But we wouldn’t expect the X-1 to launch with any such ticket. Most similar machines are selling as experimental aircraft, and we’d expect the same here – meaning no commercial flights, owner-pilot only, and heavily-restricted flight operations within defined areas – which probably won’t include floating over highway traffic in the short to medium term.
But we live in hope!https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSJrzwPmT0k?enablejsapi=1
The Velociter X-1 Personal eVTOL
Source: Velo X Aerospace
