▲ Picture source SkyDrive

Founded in 2018, SkyDrive grew out of CARTIVATOR, a volunteer group of aircraft and drone engineers. The company has previously accepted investment from companies such as NEC, Suzuki, and Kansai Electric Power. The short-term goal is to provide “air taxi” services at the Osaka World Expo in 2025. SkyDrive is currently conducting joint research with JAXA, Japan’s national aerospace agency.

It was previously reported that SkyDrive launched the SD-05, a flying car for personal sales, in April this year, priced at $1.5 million. The SD-05 is equipped with motors and propellers, can take off and land vertically, has a cruising range of 10 kilometers, and a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour. The aircraft can accommodate two people at the same time and is expected to be delivered to individual buyers after 2025.

In addition, Suzuki and SkyDrive reached an agreement in March to cooperate in the research, development and marketing of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL).

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According to the news, SkyDrive’s SD-05 aeroplane car for personal sales can be used by two people at the same time and is equipped with motors and propellers, vertical takeoff and landing, and an intelligent assisted driving system. It is envisioned to have a maximum range of approximately 10 kilometres and a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour and is expected to be delivered to individual buyers later in 2025.

It should be noted that SkyDrive entered into a pre-order agreement with a Vietnamese company as early as last year, to which SkyDrive will sell 100 SD-05s.

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As a successor to the SD-03 prototype, which will be publicly demonstrated in August 2020, the SD-05 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is being developed as a two-seat air cab, with one of the occupants expected to be the pilot – unlike China’s autonomous eHang 216.

The pilot will be aided by a computer-controlled flight system to ensure stability in the air, with a dozen motor/propeller combinations rising and departing at three times the speed on angular “pearl white swallow” wings above the cabin.

In fact, the aero body is said to be inspired by “studies of bird and animal streamlining” and features horizontal and vertical tail fins to increase flight stability.

The SkyDrive aims to achieve a cruising speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and an operating range of up to 10 km (6.2 miles) per charge, so it may be limited to quick jumps within cities or short tourist flights – for example, shuttling between tourist attractions in the Osaka Bay area or transporting vacationers to and from resorts.

The SD-05 main body structure will be made of aluminum and composite materials. It will measure 9.4 x 9.4 x 2.7 meters (30.8 x 30.8 x 8.5 feet) and have a maximum takeoff weight of 1,100 kg (2,400 pounds).

Renderings of the SD-05 depict a very different air cab than the one released earlier this year following the announcement of a partnership with Suzuki, and design specifications may change further as development progresses, but the company is already looking for the first type of certification from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. SkyDrive also has its eye on providing last-mile transportation in the U.S. at some point in the future options, having opened an office in the U.S. this month.

“This is another big step toward making flying cars and air highways a reality,” said Takumi Yamamoto, the company’s director of design. “Two years have passed since the announcement of SD-03, which successfully completed the public manned flight testing in August 2020, and we are very excited to announce its successor, SD-05. we look forward to meeting everyone at Expo 2025 in Osaka.”

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