‘World’s Fastest’ EVTOL Zooms At Speeds Faster Than Sports Cars

A flying car is an impressive feat as it stands (or flies). Getting it up in the air and taking its riders from one point to the other is about as futuristic as it gets. However, Australian-based Alauda Aeronautics is pushing the boundaries by developing what the company claims is the “world’s fastest” crewed air vehicle.

The previous record holder was Horizon’s ‘Joby’, which reached a maximum range of 205 mph.
 
Speeding in is the ‘Airspeeder MK4’, a one-person electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) that can go up to 225 mph and has a distance range of 180 miles. A 1,000 kW Thunderstrike Hydrogen Turbogenerator connected to electric motors on the eVTOL wings powers this bad boy up. It also allows hydrogen to be used instead of traditional fuel sources.

The demonstration ‘Thunderstrike’ engine features a distinctive combustor created using 3D-printing technologies that were developed for rocket engines in the space sector. The combustor’s design keeps the temperature of the hydrogen flame at a manageable level, significantly lowering emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx).

When uncrewed, the aircraft weighs 2,095 pounds and can reach its top speed within 30 seconds. The MK4 uses a gimbaled thrust system with artificial intelligence to adjust its four-rotor pairs. This gives its pilot better control over steering.
 

The company is set to test out crewed flights sometime this quarter and hopes to host races by next year. Last October, the team trialed unmanned races with remote-control pilots.

 
 
 
[via Robb Report and Aero-Mag, images via Alauda Aeronautics]