Alef's Model instantiates a lift-cruise scheme evocative of eVTOL aircraft the likes of Archer's Midnight, Lilium's Lilium Jet and Joby's S4 2.0. Alef's proposed flying car is electrically powered and designed to be driven much like a conventional automobile on public roads. The vehicle's ostensible vertical take-off and landing capabilities are unremarkable. However, its forward-flight architecture is eminently unique. Alef's Model A comprises a spherical occupant compartment, not unlike a human-sized hamster-ball, set within a carbon-fibre body with open, mesh-like dorsal and ventral surfaces. Contained within the essentially flow-through body are four dual-rotor assemblies mounted perpendicularly to the vehicle's on-road longitudinal axis and positioned just inboard of its four wheels.
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Future Flight.
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This story is from the July 2023 edition of Future Flight.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Sustainability and connectivity: top of the agenda for private jet industry
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