Airbus set to begin testing radical single person 'Vahana' flying taxi in Oregon

  • The firm's Vahana vertical takeoff and landing craft arrived to the test hangar
  • Airbus says the move is a 'monumental' step toward the craft's first flight
  • The company previously revealed plan to test the n prototype by the end of 2017

Airbus’s electric vertical-takeoff and landing aircraft has arrived to the site where its first full-scale test flights will soon take place, bringing dreams of self-flying taxis closer to reality.

The Vahana craft recently completed its move to the 9,600 square foot Pendleton Hangar at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport, in what the firm is calling a ‘monumental’ step toward the first flight.

The company previously revealed its plan to test the single-person prototype by the end of 2017, targeting 2020 for a production-ready version of the craft.

Airbus¿s electric vertical-takeoff and landing aircraft has arrived to the site where its first full-scale test flights will take place, bringing dreams of self-flying taxis closer to reality. The company previously revealed its plan to test the single-person prototype by the end of 2017

Airbus’s electric vertical-takeoff and landing aircraft has arrived to the site where its first full-scale test flights will take place, bringing dreams of self-flying taxis closer to reality. The company previously revealed its plan to test the single-person prototype by the end of 2017

The new Pendleton Hangar opened back in June, and has since awaited the arrival of its first occupant, according to a new blog post.

Now, after ‘robust planning, long hours, and graceful execution,’ the firm says Vahana has finally reached its destination.

The team put the final touches on the craft ahead of its journey, and then sent it in a caravan to Oregon.

Once it arrived the team unloaded the fuselage and tested the landing gear handling and towing provisions for the first time.

 The new Pendleton Hangar opened back in June, and has since awaited the arrival of its first occupant, according to a new blog post

 The new Pendleton Hangar opened back in June, and has since awaited the arrival of its first occupant, according to a new blog post

To do this, they towed the craft for the last quarter mile of the journey, from the range’s main loading dock to the hangar.

In less than a day, the team reassembled the craft, allowing them to then install the high voltage power system and motors that will power the first test flights.

The team also carried out the first end-to-end flight test simulation, combining real and simulated data.

‘These types of simulations help the team verify certain aspects of the avionics, software, and communications, while allowing them refine displays for the operators,’ the Vahana team explained in the blog post.

The team put the final touches on the craft ahead of its journey, and then sent it in a caravan to Oregon. It's now preparing for upcoming flight tests. An artist's impression is pictured 

The team put the final touches on the craft ahead of its journey, and then sent it in a caravan to Oregon. It's now preparing for upcoming flight tests. An artist's impression is pictured 

MEET VAHANA 

 Project Vahana began earlier this year and is one of the first projects at A³, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley. 

The first conceptual renders have been revealed showing a sleek self-flying aircraft with room for one passenger who sits under a canopy that retracts similar to a motorcycle helmet visor. 

Its also believed that the air taxis will take off and land vertically, as there are helicopter-like struts, and tilting wings each with four electric motors. 

The team at Vahana aims to have a full-sized prototype in the air by the end of 2017 and a model on the market for sale by 2020.

Airbus has revealed its airborne vehicles will cost ‘the equivalent of a normal taxi’ - $1.50 to $2.00 per mile. 

This artist rendering provided by Airbus shows a vehicle in their flying car project, Vahana. Even before George Jetson entranced kids with his flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing. Nearly a dozen companies around the globe, some of them with deep pockets like Airbus, are working to develop personal aircraft that let people hop over crowded roadways. (Airbus via AP)

The first conceptual renders have been revealed showing a sleek self-flying aircraft with room for one passenger who sits under a canopy that retracts similar to a motorcycle helmet visor

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Project Vahana is one of the first projects at A³, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley.

In May, the firm claimed that traveling from point A to point B in the radical craft could eventually cost ‘the equivalent of a normal taxi’.

Zach Lovering, the project leader at Airbus, told Business Insider that passengers should expect to pay $1.50 to $2.50 per mile.

Once it arrived the team unloaded the fuselage and tested the landing gear handling and towing provisions for the first time. To do this, they towed the craft for the last quarter mile of the journey, from the range¿s main loading dock to the hangar

Once it arrived the team unloaded the fuselage and tested the landing gear handling and towing provisions for the first time. To do this, they towed the craft for the last quarter mile of the journey, from the range’s main loading dock to the hangar

The Vahana craft recently completed its move to the 9,600 square foot Pendleton Hangar at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport, in what the firm is calling a ¿monumental¿ step toward the first flight
In less than a day, the team reassembled the craft

The Vahana craft recently completed its move to the 9,600 square foot Pendleton Hangar at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport, in what the firm is calling a ‘monumental’ step toward the first flight. In less than a day, the team reassembled the craft

Project Vahana is one of the first projects at A³, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley

Project Vahana is one of the first projects at A³, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley

The low cost is possible because the craft does not need the same maintenance as ground cabs, according to the firm.

The aim would be for people to book the vehicle using an app, similar to car-sharing schemes, as it will pick up passengers at their requested location.

Airbus says the final design could take to the skies in 2020, achieving flights of up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) on a single charge.

The firm also has plans to equip each aircraft with spare batteries, allowing it to stay operational longer.

The Vahana team carried out the first end-to-end flight test simulation, combining real and simulated data

The Vahana team carried out the first end-to-end flight test simulation, combining real and simulated data