A rendition of the AIR ONE, a two-seater electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that Israeli startup AIR aims to sell to consumers pred

Israeli startup AIR unveils flying vehicle to be used 'like cars'

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2021-10-19 14:00:11

A rendition of the AIR ONE, a two-seater electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that Israeli startup AIR aims to sell to consumers predominantly in the U.S. market as of 2024, in this undated handout obtained by Reuters on October 18, 2021. AIR/Handout via REUTERS

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Israeli startup AIR on Tuesday unveiled its first "easy-to-operate" electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that it aims to sell directly to consumers predominantly in the United States starting in 2024.

AIR has been working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for two years and expects to obtain certification by the end of 2023 for the AIR ONE, a two-seater, 970 kg (2,138 lb) eVTOL, which will have a flight range of 110 miles (177 km), Chief Executive Rani Plaut told Reuters.

AIR raised seed funding of under $10 million last year and has been running unmanned tests of its vehicle. It is building prototype models and expects to sell its eVTOLs for around the same price as an expensive car, Plaut said, without providing more precise details.