Japan startup SkyDrive showcases high-speed “flying car” demo in Yamaguchi

YAMAGUCHI, Japan, July 13 (Kyodo/APP): Japanese startup SkyDrive Inc. conducted high-speed demonstration flights of its “flying car” on Monday at a test site in Yamaguchi, western Japan.

The demo was designed to simulate a sightseeing tour over the Seto Inland Sea. The company remotely operated an aircraft that seats three, including the pilot, flying about 2 kilometers, including over water, at a top speed of 86 kilometers per hour.

As multiple propellers on top began to spin, the aircraft lifted vertically and took off toward the sea. After flying for about 1 km, it turned around, accelerated, and returned to the departure point. The six-minute demonstration flight was conducted twice.

“I hope this gave you a sense of how we can tour the beautiful Seto Inland Sea in a way that respects the environment and the local community,” said SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa.

In June, SkyDrive said it had achieved stable flight at 100 kph toward commercialization. The company aims to launch services around 2028 in Osaka and Oita prefectures.

Such electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are expected to help address various challenges, including traffic congestion and overcrowded trains. SkyDrive, based in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, conducted demonstration flights at the World Exposition in Osaka last year.