Volocopter Opens Air Taxi Exhibition

Singapore facility to offer tours of VoloCity two-seat prototype and 3D scale vertiport model.

Singapore and Volocopter officials pose in a VoloCity prototype eVTOL air taxi

Singapore Minister of Trade Gan Kim Yong, left, and Volocopter CCO Christian Bauer explore a VoloCity air taxi prototype. [Courtesy: Volocopter]

As Volocopter stakes a claim in Singapore, the Germany-based air taxi developer plans to create a spectacular interactive public exhibition centered around its VoloCity two-seat electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. 

In partnership with Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE), the exhibit will offer free tours of the VoloCity air taxi prototype and a 3D scale model of its planned VoloPort facility for air taxi takeoffs and landings. It will be located at the school’s Aerospace Hub, the ITE’s aircraft technician training center. 

The announcement comes five months after Volocopter and Singapore unveiled plans to create an entire eVTOL ecosystem, starting in 2024 with guided air tours of the city-state’s Mariana Bay Area and expanding to commuters and business travelers by 2030.

Plans call for Singapore’s urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure to eventually include four to six VoloPorts. 

Although Singapore is expected to be among Volocopter’s first launch markets, the company is also hoping to offer air taxi service with VoloCity in Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Volocopter is hoping for certification in time to offer air taxi service at the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. [Courtesy: Volocopter]

Eyes on Asia

It’s the latest signal that Volocopter continues to see Asia as a key to its business strategy.

Volocopter announced plans last year to launch air taxi service at Japan’s World Expo in 2025. 

The company also has plans aimed at South Korea, where last November it staged a demonstration flight of its 2X test article.

Also, Volocopter has made deals to begin manufacturing and selling eVTOLs in China.

About the Aircraft

The company says VoloCity continues to move toward certification for flight under European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations for the SC-VTOL category.

In 2021, the aircraft secured production organization approval (POA) in compliance with EASA under Part 21G. In 2019, it attained design production organization approval (DOA) under Part 21J.

VoloCity Air Taxi Specs

Capacity1 pilot/1 passenger + hand luggage
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)900 kg (1,984 pounds)
Maximum payload200 kg (441 pounds)
Range35 km (19 nm)
Maximum airspeed110 km/h (59 knots)
Fuel9 lithium-ion battery packs
Proprotors/motors18
Volocopter envisions creating an entire eVTOL ecosystem in Singapore, beginning in 2024. [Courtesy: Volocopter]

A Four-Seater

This past May, a demonstrator for Volocopter’s VoloConnect, the company’s first four-seater, flew its first flight test.

Volocopter is targeting VoloConnect for certification in time to enter service in 2026.

Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.

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