BlackFly

[Quamera]

If things go as planned there is a personal electric VTOL called the BlackFly about to go on sale to the public in early 2019 for about the price of an SUV. The international model's empty weight is 142kg and it is designed to carry a pilot/payload of 113kg about 60km at a cruise speed of 120km/h which indicates a half hour flight time on its 12kWh battery (the USA version has reduced specs due to regulations). The BlackFly's 8 motors are fixed into a pair of wings, the aircraft tilts rearwards (so the props are horizontal) for takeoff, hovering and lowspeed flight then forwards (vertical props) for highspeed flight using its wings for lift.
It has joystick control, RTH, multiple redundancies and is covered under ultralight regulations so almost anyone could pilot the BlackFly. The inventor, engineer Marcus Leung has been working on his PAV (personal aerial vehicle) for nearly 10 years and I can only assume he has paid careful attention to DJI's products during that time. The big question is has DJI developed something similar to the BlackFly, it would seem like a logical progression although obviously they haven't told us about it yet.

 

[Deleted member 62848]

If things go as planned there is a personal electric VTOL called the BlackFly about to go on sale to the public in early 2019 for about the price of an SUV. The international model's empty weight is 142kg and it is designed to carry a pilot/payload of 113kg about 60km at a cruise speed of 120km/h which indicates a half hour flight time on its 12kWh battery (the USA version has reduced specs due to regulations). The BlackFly's 8 motors are fixed into a pair of wings, the aircraft tilts rearwards (so the props are horizontal) for takeoff, hovering and lowspeed flight then forwards (vertical props) for highspeed flight using its wings for lift.
It has joystick control, RTH, multiple redundancies and is covered under ultralight regulations so almost anyone could pilot the BlackFly. The inventor, engineer Marcus Leung has been working on his PAV (personal aerial vehicle) for nearly 10 years and I can only assume he has paid careful attention to DJI's products during that time. The big question is has DJI developed something similar to the BlackFly, it would seem like a logical progression although obviously they haven't told us about it yet.

Cool is this what you mention,,not the nicer design I seen but pretty cool,,the future is near,invaded by the Jetsons,

 

[Quamera]

Yes that is the 2nd generation, the next model is more streamlined and will be the one that will go on sale in 2019. Vision looks a bit limited in hover/takeoff mode but should be quite good when tilted forward cruising. More details at Opener

 

[Quamera]

Depending on retail price and how the authorities regulate the BlackFly (and similar PAVs) it has huge potential, maybe it's not the next Tesla but the whole world will find out about the BlackFly and many of us will want one.

Assuming the joystick controls will be the same as a Phantom takeoffs could be slightly disconcerting. When the pilot pushes forward on the left stick the aircraft would immediately tip backwards 40 to 60 degrees before lifting off. Hopefully they raise the maximum operating temperature by at least 10 Degrees too because 30 Deg C isn't high enough for Australia.