GabyIt’s hard to imagine thousands of neat eCopters hovering like a cloud of insects over the futuristic pavilions of Expo 2030, carrying participants and guests to the world’s largest exhibition.
This technological fairy tale about single- and two-seat helicopters may soon be real. The company FlyNow calls itself a revolutionary in urban air mobility and dismisses skeptics who ask uncomfortable questions about the sleek, bold, and somewhat quirky aircraft.
Skeptics ask: How will visitors operate the aircraft without pilots? How much noise will the vehicles make? How will amateur pilots avoid collisions with other helicopters in the air? Overall, how safe is the system?
On their website, the concept’s authors answer these questions and express confidence in the project’s future. The team began testing the eCopter at Salzburg Airport in summer 2023; the tests were successful, Designboom reports. Recently, the Austrian startup announced plans to open a production line for the electric helicopters in Saudi Arabia.
What is the eCopter from FlyNow like?
Company employees say they were inspired by NASA‘s Mars Helicopter—especially its rotor design. The eCopters use coaxial rotors, with one rotor mounted above another on the same shaft and spinning in the opposite direction.
The company also says the aircraft can lift roughly 200 kilograms of live cargo (passengers). A full charge gives a 50-kilometer range, and top speed is about 130 km/h. Noise levels shouldn’t exceed 55 decibels.
To prevent collisions, eCopters are equipped with sensors to detect nearby aircraft. The tech team is being meticulous about this safety feature. FlyNow has about six years to refine the system and convince the public of its benefits.
The World Expo 2030 will take place in Riyadh from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031.
