This month, executives of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Jetson got in the pilot’s seat, competing in what the company has dubbed the world’s first eVTOL race.
The race—featuring Jetson CEO Stéphan D’haene, founder and chief technology officer Tomasz Patan, and chief pilot Andrea Spresian—comes about one month after the debut flight of the company’s first production Jetson One, SN1. That vehicle flew in the competition against a pair of preproduction demonstration aircraft, finishing second.
Unlike eVTOL air taxis that are designed to transport three to four passengers, the Jetson One is a single-seat design for recreational use, similar to Pivotal’s Helix. Like the Helix, Jetson One users will not need a pilot’s license to fly it in the U.S.—the company aims to certify it as a Part 103 ultralight.
The model is controlled with a flight computer and four-axis joystick and powered by eight electric motors, giving it a top speed of 55 knots and flight time of about 20 minutes. Jetson bills it as a “[Formula 1] racing car for the sky” that is packed with safety features, including a race car-inspired safety cell and limitations on pilot height and weight.
Some eVTOL designs are likely to remain dreams. But you can order a Jetson One now and get it delivered by 2027, Jetson claims. The company charges an $8,000 nonrefundable down payment and a $120,000 final payment at delivery. Production slots for 2025 and 2026 have been entirely sold out, it says, with most buyers located in the U.S. The aircraft even appears in the most recent Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Jetson builds its aircraft at a production and research and development facility in Arezzo, Italy, with flight testing occurring nearby. But the company has aims to expand to the U.S. and has an office in Palo Alto, California.
It has also shown an affinity for air racing. In December, Jetson unveiled custom-designed pylons that stand about 26 feet tall and are decorated with visibility markers. It put them to the test this month as D’haene, Patan, and Spresian flew around a course in Italy.
“This event is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and it paves the way for exciting developments in the future of urban air mobility,” D’haene said in a statement.
Jetson said the three racers are eager to get back in the pilot’s seat and that “organizers worldwide” have extended invitations to compete in future competitions.
The next best opportunity to watch an eVTOL race may be in October, when the Pulitzer Trophy is revived with all-electric aircraft.
Open to the public, the event will take place at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport’s (KSGH) National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Ohio. It will feature 24 teams competing in three days of races, as well as eVTOL “experience flights” for attendees. Electric aircraft of all types—including experimental models, if proper FAA permissions are secured—will be able to compete.
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