Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines. A major chunk of the big-sized passenger aircrafts use jet engines made by Rolls-Royce. However, the company has now jumped into the flying taxi game and has revealed a propulsion system concept that could power the air taxies of the future. The British company in a statement said that it has come up with a concept hybrid-electric air vehicle that can fit four to five passengers and travel at speeds up to 250 miles per hour with a range of about 500 miles. With this announcement Rolls-Royce joins the growing list of companies that are working on flying taxies, which includes the likes of Airbus and ride-sharing firm Uber.
Rolls-Royce’s flying taxi concept has wings that rotate 90 degrees allowing it to take off vertically. The wings have four propellers that fold away at cruising height, while two additional propellers on the rear are used for thrust during flight. It uses a version of Rolls-Royce’s M250 gas turbine which has been modified to be a part of a hybrid system that charges the electric propeller system and the battery. Speaking ahead of this week’s Farnborough Airshow, Rob Watson, head of the company’s electrical team, said: “We are well placed to play a leading role in the emerging world of personal air mobility and will also look to work in collaboration with a range of partners.” Rolls-Royce will be pitching the concept at the show to bring more partners into the project and plans to get the aircraft ready for the skies within a decade.
[Via:Bloomberg]
