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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The country’s first regional hub for “flying cars” is under construction in central Florida and, when completed in five years, the vehicles will be able to carry passengers from Orlando to Tampa within half an hour, officials said. Wednesday.
The Tavistock Development Corp. said she was building a Jetsons-type aircraft facility in the Orlando area of Lake Nona, the planned mixed-use community she built. Lake Nona is already home to several medical and research facilities.
The aircraft will be supplied by Lilium, a Germany-based airline that manufactures the industry’s only five-passenger “electric vertical take-off and landing” aircraft. At the moment, the Lilium Jets can travel up to 185 miles (almost 300 kilometers) on a one hour charge.
Passengers wishing to fly on the plane will be able to book through their phones in a manner similar to ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft, officials said.
Vehicles flying and landing outside of Nona Vertiport Lake will accommodate four passengers and a pilot. The cost will be similar to a first-class fare, although the price will likely decrease as the service becomes more popular, officials said.
Unlike airplanes and helicopters, vehicles offer quick personal point-to-point travel, at least in principle. They could eliminate the hassle of airports and traffic jams.
Battery size, air traffic control and other infrastructure issues are among the many potential challenges to their commercialization, experts say. Experts compare the buzz of flying cars to the days when the aviation industry started with the Wright brothers and the auto industry with the Ford Model T.
The Nona Vertiport Lake has sought approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation.
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