Bizarre flying car jet pack hybrid takes off in Tokyo

  • HEXA is an eVTOL with a truly unique appearance
  • It’s essentially just a seat where the driver’s legs are exposed, similar to a rollercoaster’s chair
  • It doesn’t require a license to operate; just a 30-minute virtual reality training session is needed

Published on May 28, 2024 at 6:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves

Last updated on May 28, 2024 at 6:47 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

There’s a new type of flying car in the skies.

HEXA is a flying vehicle that looks like a combination of an eVTOL and a jet pack.

It just made its debut in Tokyo, effortlessly flying around like a giant drone.

What’s perhaps most exciting is that no special license is needed to operate one.

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Despite the various challenges and obstacles facing their development, a future filled with flying cars is imminent.

XPeng’s X2 has soared ahead of the competition, able to fly for 35 minutes on a single charge.

EHang, meanwhile, is working hard to develop a fleet of autonomous flying taxis in Abu Dhabi.

Lift Aircraft is a US-based company that believes anyone should be able to pilot an eVTOL.

It’s just unveiled HEXA, a single-seat flying car with 18 propellers.

The vehicle is small, essentially just a seat where the driver’s legs are exposed, similar to a rollercoaster’s chair.

It’s 8.5 feet high, 14.8 feet wide, and weighs around 432 pounds.

At Asia’s largest innovation conference, SusHi Tech Tokyo, HEXA made its debut on the continent.

“We’re on a mission to make the joy and utility of personal, vertical flight accessible to all,” the company said in a statement.

Next up, the HEXA is touring the US, aiming to provide the world’s first eVTOL pay-per-flight experience.

Anyone who wants a chance to pilot this unusual-looking flying car can do so, with no special license required.

Instead of earning a license, potential pilots will need to spend 30 minutes in a virtual reality simulator first.

The company limits how high, far, and fast HEXA can fly, and ensures there is a pilot on the ground ready in case of emergency.

Ultimately the company is hoping to offer its eVTOLs as a tourist activity in cities like New York.

Think of it as the luxurious alternative to hiring a bicycle.

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Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.