Personal Air Transport Drives Need for Advanced VTOL Technologies, Standards

AeroMobil is actively developing a range of future technologies to enable adoption of personal air transport at scale, including electrification, autonomous capability, and innovative propulsion systems.

November 13, 2018

Courtney E. Howard

“The future of urban transportation requires close partnership between regulators, cities, authorities, and the private sector. AeroMobil is closely working with cities around the world to establish opportunities to test, develop, and implement routes for safe personal transportation in the sky,” says Jonathan Carrier, vice president of corporate development of AeroMobil in Slovakia.

AeroMobil has unveiled two Sky Dragon roadable aircraft or flying car concepts specifically designed for China, based on the AeroMobil 4.0 short takeoff and landing (STOL) and 5.0 vertical takeoff and landing ( VTOL ) aircraft. (Read about AeroMobil's Sky Dragon aircraft concepts and China's personal air transport market.)

The AeroMobil 5.0 Sky Dragon demonstrates the potential provided by VTOL technology. The 5.0 electric VTOL or eVTOL design continues AeroMobil’s strategy to develop vehicles with fly-drive capability to provide seamless door-to-door journeys with the added convenience of vertical take-off and landing.

The AeroMobil 5.0 has been specifically developed for inter-urban and intra-city personal air transport , including as a shared means of transport, to provide a premium limousine service in the sky.

The AeroMobil 5.0 Sky Dragon features two electrically driven rotors to ensure safe vertical take-off with horizontal thrust being provided by an electric-powered, rear-mounted propeller. Each of the four passengers seated inside have access to a personalized inflight entertainment system.

Read more: VTOL technology, urban air mobility (UAM), and personal air transport information from SAE International

The 5.0 VTOL design maintains AeroMobil’s standards for comfort and safety from the 4.0 STOL, which in flight mode, will be among the first flying vehicles with airbags, a frontal automotive vehicle crash structure, and a parachute. Based on similar design language, it will have an instantly recognizable silhouette, with a modern and desirable exterior with a comparable footprint to a regular car.

Production of the AeroMobil 5.0 VTOL model will follow the AeroMobil 4.0 STOL roll-out which will be available in a limited series to private owners around the world in 2020. The company expects the AeroMobil 5.0 VTOL concept to be available within the next seven to 10 years, in line with the reality of building and scaling the infrastructure and regulation for such innovative personal transportation.

“We see a lot of interest around the VTOL technology which can change commuting patterns in the developed urban areas, especially in China,” AeroMobil Chairman Patrick Hessel says.

“AeroMobil seeks close collaboration with China’s forward-thinking cities to develop these opportunities and create the social and economic growth that innovation and technology in personal air transportation can generate,” Carrier continues.

“VTOL is a core part of our ongoing technical development and we anticipate starting to test prototypes in the early part of the next year. This will enable AeroMobil to start to test some of the key systems for distributed electrical propulsion and collect invaluable data that will accelerate the design of our unique personal aerial vehicle platform,” Hessel adds.

AeroMobil Sky Dragon features:

Luxurious, two-seater AeroMobil “Sky Dragon” concept developed exclusively for China highlights the importance of the fast-growing Chinese personal aviation market and potential for personal flying cars in China to promote increased connections, openness and community
The “Sky Dragon” concept is based on the AeroMobil 4.0 Short-Take-Off and Landing (STOL) and AeroMobil 5.0 Vertical-Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) flying cars which blend sleek design, European craftsmanship together with performance and exclusivity to offer a thrilling experience on the ground and in the air
The “Sky Dragon” concept features a comfortable cabin with high-quality finishes and advanced technologies:
- A high-strength carbon-fiber monocoque structure for lightweight, increased safety and interior integrity
- Controls that transform seamlessly from the air to the road in seconds to provide the driver with predictability and confidence
- Adaptive suspension that adapts for in flight and road driving modes, maximizing aerodynamic stability and efficiency during flight and providing optimum handling when driving

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Courtney E. Howard is editorial director and content strategist at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group. Contact her by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..