The Antelope named hypercar-likened flying ride managed to pass the free-flight test in Dubai

Flying Hypercar The development of automotive technology does not only focus on electric-powered and autonomous vehicles, but also flying cars. The development of this type of vehicle is largely based on futuristic assumptions which are intended as a solution to the current problem of urban society, namely traffic congestion due to more increasing population.

The Bellwether Industries’ Volar eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aerial ride named the Antelope is a flying hypercar for private owners. (Picture from: Khaleej Times)

Although the development of this type of vehicle is mostly still in the assessment stage and is still far from practical as conventional vehicles currently exist, nevertheless all of them deserve appreciation as an inspiring and innovative technological breakthrough.

Recently, there's one futuristic hypercar-likened flying ride had successfully completed a series of test flights in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its flight tests is revealed, a day after the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) was held its first legal forum to review the legislation for flying taxis.

This Bellwether Industries’ Volar eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) is the world’s first aerial ride without a large wingspan or exposed blades, making it ideal for urban use. (Picture from: New Atlas)

Those electric-powered hypercar-likened flying ride is called the Bellwether Industries Volar eVTOL aka the Antelope is designed and developed by a London-based startup company named Bellwether Industries. And by November 2021, the Antelope prototype (in half-scale) has managed to complete a series of testing in Dubai.

The company said that the ultimate vision of a full-scale the Antelope Volar eVTOL ride will be a 4-to-5-seat aircraft carrying out intracity travels at an altitude of 3,000 feet (915 metres) with a speed of up to 220 kilometres per hour (135 miles per hour).

As qouted of Khaleej Times, in the last two years, the whole team whose developed the Bellwether Volar eVTOL (stands for 'electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing') aerial vehicle has also carried out several iteration phases to improve the the prototype's flight capability and performances.

The Bellwether Volar eVTOL prototype called the Antelope in half-scale has managed to complete its free-flight tests in Dubai. (Picture from: Coventry Telegraph)

“Our Volar flying prototype smoothly and proves our pursuit of innovation and technology. We believe in our volar and will strive for perfection with continuous improvement," said Kai-Tse Lin, chief operating officer and co-founder of Bellwether Industries.

“The test flight was carried out at an altitude of 13 feet at a speed of 40 km per hour. This test demonstrates the stability and controllability of the prototype. This step will be the beginning of a series of development projects," he added.

Bellwether says the ultimate vision of a full-scale Volar will be a 4-to-5-seat aircraft carrying out intracity travels at an altitude of 3,000 feet (915 metres) with a speed of up to 220 kilometres per hour (135 miles per hour). (Picture from: Khaleej Times)

As proof of the success of the test, the company then posted a short video of the Volar's test flight on social media titled "The era of urban air mobility has begun." As you can see on the video the flying vehicle was capable taking off from an open area of ​​the park, then flying in a while before landing again safely.

The current prototype only has two seats, in the future, the hypercar-likened flying ride can be filled with five seats that capable to fly about 5 people. The company mentioned that its flying hypercar is designed to replace the currently conventional road-use vehicle, and also could be said the Bellwether Industries' Antelope is the world's first eVTOL flying ride without a large of wingspans or exposed propeller blades.

Next development of the Antelope aerial ride prototype in the full-scale is scheduled to be completed and ready to re-test in 2023. Furthermore the company said as qouted of its official website, they believe that people traveling in the sky are inevitable in the next 10 years. Therefore, and that's the reason they made the Volar aerial ride afor anyone to fly anytime and anywhere to any point.

Although the Volar was not the first flying cars have been explored in Dubai. As we all knew during the 2021 Dubai Air Show, there's a Florida-based LuftCar said it was developing an autonomous land-rides that could be mounted and removed from the flying module.

As we all knew, Dubai has passed a law regulating the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in July 2020. So in November, the RTA said it was reviewing the legislation of the flying taxis and self-driving skypods.

This seems to be in line with the Dubai's ambitious Sky Dome project which be allowed the city's skies filled by manned or unmanned aerial rides that will link places and buildings via landing pads and mini airports across the city. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BELLWETHER INDUSTRIES | EVTOL | KHALEEJ TIMES | THENATIONALNEWS ]

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