Bell Helicopter unveils a new air-taxi concept at CES in Las
Vegas.
The aviation world is fascinated with urban air taxis these
days—small, autonomous, electric vehicles that can take off and land
vertically. Developers hope these new aircraft will rescue urban-based
travelers from gridlock and delay. But officials at Bell Helicopter, a Texas
company that’s been building helicopters since the 1930s, say air taxis are
nothing new—that’s exactly the niche helicopters have filled for decades.
Helicopters, of course, could at best be considered a
first-generation air taxi—they’re powered by noisy, fossil-fuel-burning
engines, and they require expertly trained pilots. Now, at the Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Bell has unveiled a new concept for
its own air taxi of the future.
Bell’s cabin mockup features luxe ergonomic leather seating
for four—all passengers, no onboard pilot required—with a full suite of
state-of-the-art technologies to ease the commute time. Video calling, wi-fi,
and wireless charging keep travelers entertained and productive. Big windows
provide a panoramic view of the passing scene for those who prefer to watch the
world go by.
“The future of urban air taxis is closer than many people
realize,” said Bell CEO Mitch Snyder, at CES. “We believe in the positive
impact our design will have on addressing transportation concerns in cities
worldwide.” Last year, Bell partnered with Uber’s Elevate project, directed by
NASA veteran Mark Moore, which aims to bring urban air taxis to reality.
Bell is the first major helicopter manufacturer to exhibit
at CES. The show also hosted the first U.S. flight of the Volocopter, a
drone-like, electric-powered, two-seat multicopter built in Germany. The
SureFly passenger drone, under development in Ohio, also was on exhibit at the
show, but a planned demo flight was scratched due to rainy weather.
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