Though it seem like something out of Star Trek, the egg-shaped jet known as Lilium is real, and it’s the first personal aircraft in the world to be able to take off and land vertically. Scheduled to launch in 2018, the electric vehicle has a top speed of 250 MPH and a range of 300 miles.
Small and silent, the tiny plane was designed in Germany by four Munich University graduates, and has been praised for its environmental benefits. And because of its vertical skills, it can take off and land anywhere without the need for an airport or strip.
Lilium is the first personal aircraft to be able to take off and land vertically. Image source: ESA.
According to a press release by the European Space Agency (ESA), the goal is to develop an aircraft for everyday use. “We are going for a plane that can take off and land vertically and does not need the complex and expensive infrastructure of an airport,” Lilium co-owner, Daniel Wiegand, said. “To reduce noise and pollution, we are using electric engines so it can also be used close to urban areas.”
Because the eco-friendly jet is electric, there are fewer emissions, and it’s quieter than previous private jets, thanks to the ducted fan engines. The ESA’s website describes the two-seater aircraft as “elegance, speed, comfort and sustainability — fusing to a new form of traveling, defining a completely new form of freedom.”
Lilium doesn't need a runway, but can use helipads. Image source: ESA.
Due to its small size, the plane will not have to fit into airport scheduling to land and take off. The project, designed by Wiegand and fellow engineers, Patrick Nathen, Sebastian Born, and Matthias Meiner, began in 2015. Aviation enthusiasts will need a pilot’s license and at least 20 hours of training to fly the craft.
Currently there is no information on how much the plane will cost.
Source: ESA
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