Staff Reports
There’s a new kid on the block in the aviation world, and it’s as tiny as a motorcycle but packs a punch – Pivotal’s electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, lovingly dubbed the EV tall. This pint-sized marvel weighs in at less than some chubby cats and is designed to fly without the need for a pilot’s license. That’s right, folks, soon you might be soaring through the skies without needing a degree in aeronautics or a whole lot of training. Pivotal’s decision to go down the ultralight path is like taking the express lane; it allows them to whip up design changes faster than one can say “cloud nine.”
So, what’s so special about this aircraft? For starters, it takes off and lands vertically, much like a helicopter. However, while helicopters need a special set of rotors and some serious lift time, the EV tall flaunts eight propellers. This means even if one little propeller decides to take a vacation, the aircraft can still glide through the air without breaking a sweat. Talk about redundancy! This design not only improves safety but might also tickle the fancy of thrill-seekers who love the idea of flying with a little extra peace of mind.
Powered by a battalion of batteries, this sleek contraption minimizes traditional engine maintenance, which is a fancy way of saying fewer headaches for the pilots. Since it trades in the grumbling gas engine for pure electric power, the EV tall boasts fewer moving parts. Simply put, that means less to go wrong, making it a more reliable option in the skies. With a mere twelve control surfaces—including its eight propellers and four stealthy little eleons for pitch, roll, and altitude control—this aircraft is as streamlined as they come.
The magic really unveils itself when you consider how the aircraft transitions from vertical to forward flight. Upon taking off, the entire body of the craft tilts back, transforming the passenger’s seating arrangement from upright to a laid-back pose, making them feel more like they are in a lounge chair than a cockpit. Once it takes to the skies, it can zip forward at speeds up to 63 mph, making for a joyride that’s sure to leave one grinning. To add to the ease of flying, the Pivotal comes equipped with software that practically does the flying. The pilot simply needs to control their direction and altitude using a joystick, while the software handles the nitty-gritty stuff like adjusting to wind changes.
Now here comes the bittersweet part. The EV tall does have its shortcomings. Priced at $190,000, it offers flights that last around 20 minutes or cover only about 20 miles—a tad short for your average cross-country road trip. This limitation might make sense for joyriding, but it puts a damper on dreaming of using the EV tall for more serious endeavors like emergency services. And while the FAA’s ultralight aircraft rules allow these vehicles to take off from nearly anywhere, the catch is that they can’t hover above populated areas. For now, it looks like those dreams of soaring over city skylines will have to wait.
Pivotal is looking towards the future, eyeing larger, hybrid models that could offer extended ranges for military purposes or weighty cargo missions. It’s going to take some serious innovation to stretch its capabilities, particularly for those who are yearning to travel beyond joyrides. The affectionately nicknamed ‘Flying Motorcycle’ might just be paving the way for a new style of aviation altogether, but until it can go the distance, it will remain a unique plaything for thrill-seekers and early adopters. I can hear those engines revving up already!
