Two eVTOL aircraft developers plan to make their vehicles available to yacht owners. Both companies, Air and VRCO, maintain that their respective two- and four-seat all-electric models will be able to operate safely from flat surfaces on luxury vessels and provide a convenient alternative for moving to and from land.
Air, which is working on its Air One design, this week announced a partnership with the International SeaKeepers Society, which is an educational organization for members of the yachting community. The Israel-based manufacturer says the society will help it to make the eVTOL aircraft available to yacht owners as one of a group of brand ambassadors.
According to Air One, its Air One vehicle will have a range of 110 miles and be able to fly at up to 155 mph. It will be able to operate for around an hour on a single charge and will have a payload of 440 pounds, equating to two passengers plus luggage.
The company, which recently achieved a first hover-to-cruise transition flight, claims that Air One operators will not need a full pilot’s license, although regulators have yet to specify the exact training requirements. The company has started taking $1,000 deposits toward the $150,000 purchase price and says that it will begin deliveries of the vehicle in 2024.
UK-based VRCO has signed a partnership with solar catamaran builder Silent-Yachts to make its XP4 eVTOL available to owners of the 37-meter-long (120-foot) Silent 120 model. Silent-Yachts is also offering its clients the U-Boat Worx Nemo two-seat electric submarine, which can dive to a depth of 100 meters.
According to VRCO, its XP4 eVTOL will achieve type certification in 2024. The company says that Silent 120 owners will be able to recharge the vehicle’s batteries from the yacht’s solar panels and also use the batteries as an additional power source for other purposes. It has yet to publish confirmed performance data for the aircraft.
