The UK government launched a plan that predicts flying taxis will take off in 2026.
Flying cars already exist, but a comprehensive network of flying taxis is still something ‘futuristic.’
The UK also wants drones and other flying aircrafts to be more autonomous in the near future.
READ MORE: Revolutionary plans unveiled for world’s largest plane set to change aviation
Likewise, the UK government’s Department for Transport laid out its action plan for the next six years.
The anticipated flying taxis would replace helicopter travel first for their test run.
These flying taxis are usually a part of the “eVTOLs” type of flying vehicles.
It stands for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Hence, because of this ability, they would replace helicopters, as they, too, can take off and land vertically.
While the technology for flying cars already exists, much more work must be done to reach the end goal.
There’s already a functional flying car, namely the Xpeng X2, which has successfully completed test flights.
If all goes according to the UK government’s plan, their first flying taxi could take off within two years.
Further, they plan to launch these flying taxis commercially between 2028 and 2030.
Drones with different capabilities will also likely be deployed in a phased manner within the next decade or so.
For instance, the Department of Transportation sees drone deliveries as the norm by 2027.
On top of that, “crime-fighting drones” and “routine emergency service” drones could be operating within the next five years.
READ MORE: $1.5B startup close to bringing the woolly mammoth back from the dead
The plan also aims to create a ‘vertiport’ infrastructure for eVTOLs to take off and land.
You could say that these would be mini airports.
Or a modern taxi stand, but exclusively for flying taxis.
Assuming the UK’s plan is successful, it could increase the country’s economy by $57 billion by 2030.
The aerospace industry is ever-growing, and three countries already have flying cars.
It’s difficult to grasp these predictions, but we could be using flying taxis as a common means of transport within the next ten years.
