Jetson One: a small, reasonably priced electric VTOL
This page is translated from the original post "Jetson One : un petit VTOL électrique à prix raisonnable" in French.
- 03/02/2022 12:21
Developed by a Swedish company, the Jetson ONE is a single-seat electric flying machine whose price is comparable to a luxury car.
Original aircraft projects, whether futuristic or autonomous flying taxis, seem distant and costly. But how to make individual air transport accessible, while moving away from traditional airplanes? The two co-founders of the Swedish startup Jetson, Peter Ternström and Tomasz Patan, had an original idea.
A compact eVTOL the size of a Citroën Ami
Their idea was to offer a simple design that is especially accessible. The result is the “Jetson ONE,” a single-passenger eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). It features 8 motors and blades (2 at each corner), with a combined power of 88 kW (118 hp). This is enough to lift the 86 kg machine and pilot. Its lightweight design is achieved through an aluminum structure and carbon fiber elements.
The dimensions are also compact, measuring 2.48 meters long and 1.50 meters wide, roughly the footprint of a Citroën Ami. The Jetson can even fold for parking, reducing its width to 90 cm.
Limited range but simplified control
The company does not specify the lithium-ion battery capacity. It provides about 20 minutes of flight autonomy and recharges in 1 hour on a standard outlet. The Jetson electronically limits the maximum speed to 102 km/h, and flying higher than 450 meters is not possible.
The pilot does not need a license or complex training. According to the startup, maneuvering the Jetson One only requires 5 minutes of practice. This is possible via three joysticks controlling each axis. Even receiving the package is simple: “if you receive your Jetson at lunch, you’ll be flying before dinner” assures the official website!
How much does it cost to fly in a Jetson One?
The price of the Jetson is relatively affordable. It costs $70,000 (62,000 euros), comparable to electric cars like the Tesla Model Y or BMW i4. However, don’t expect any bonus or purchase aid for this!
The attractive price has already led to high demand, with all 2022 production sold out (12 units) and only 3 units remaining out of 96 planned for 2023. Most have gone to the United States, but there are some clients in Belgium or Switzerland, and none in France at the moment.
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