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EHang air taxi takes off on three-venue flight tour of South Korea

By Paul Ridden
November 25, 2020
EHang air taxi takes off on three-venue flight tour of South Korea
The EHang 216 above Daegu City in the Suseong District, on a mission to deliver emergency response equipment
The EHang 216 above Daegu City in the Suseong District, on a mission to deliver emergency response equipment
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One of the three flight demonstrations saw the EHang 216 air taxi being used to deliver emergency fire and medical equipment
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One of the three flight demonstrations saw the EHang 216 air taxi being used to deliver emergency fire and medical equipment
The EHang 216 above Daegu City in the Suseong District, on a mission to deliver emergency response equipment
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The EHang 216 above Daegu City in the Suseong District, on a mission to deliver emergency response equipment
The EHang 216 autonomous aerial vehicle demonstrates its potential as an air taxi in the financial district of Seoul
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The EHang 216 autonomous aerial vehicle demonstrates its potential as an air taxi in the financial district of Seoul
Air tourism is one use case being explored by EHang for its two-passenger autonomous flyer, which it demonstrated at Jeju Island recently
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Air tourism is one use case being explored by EHang for its two-passenger autonomous flyer, which it demonstrated at Jeju Island recently
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Chinese air mobility company EHang has completed three test flights in South Korea to show off the passenger transport, emergency response and air tourism potential of its all-electric two-passenger autonomous aerial vehicle, the EHang 216.

After securing the first Special Certificate of Airworthiness for an autonomous air vehicle issued by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, EHang set off on a mini flight tour to demonstrate use case scenarios for its Urban Air Mobility solution.

Three locations were selected, all earmarked for the Ministry's plan to commercialize urban air mobility services by 2023-25. The first flight started from the "Manhattan of Seoul" – Yeouido Island – to serve as an air taxi service over a densely populated area of the capital's main financial and investment banking district.

The second test flight demonstrated the emergency response capabilities over Daegu City in the Suseong District, by delivering firefighting and medical equipment. And the final flight was used to show off the EHang 216's prowess for aerial sightseeing by taking in the coastline around Jeju Island.

EHang 216's Korean Flight Tour: The First Step Toward Future UAM Operations

The two-passenger autonomous air taxi features 16 independent rotors mounted in pairs on eight arms that surround the cabin. It can reach a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), cruise at around the 100 km/h mark, and has a per charge flight time of 21 minutes.

The company will now work with municipalities, the Ministry and industry partners to get air taxis flying in South Korea, with Daegu City already confirming that it plans to launch aerial routes in the future, while Juju Island is looking to set aside funding to support the development of urban air mobility operations.

The Korean tour is the latest in a number of flight tests which have seen the company's autonomous air taxis take to the air in the US, Europe and of course China. And with companies like Lilium, Volocopter and others also vying for airspace, it looks like a pretty safe bet that flying passenger pods are going to be a common sight above our cities in the very near future.

Source: EHang

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AircraftEhangAir TaxisFlying taxiAutonomous flight
8 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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8 comments
guzmanchinky
They seem to be ahead of everyone, but it's that 21 minute flight time that still has me cringing...
Signguy
As with helicopters, place the blades ABOVE the viewpoint so theres no danger of being chopped, as well as a unobstructed view.
martinwinlow
Paul,

*Please* talk to the designers and ask why (in God’s name!) they decided to put the rotors at knee level rather than a 2 million-times safer 1m above head height! Bad enough that a forced landing may kill you but to survive that only to be sliced’n’diced as you exit...?! As for the poor hapless (and somewhat dim) passer-by who does not appreciate the danger of 8 near-invisible propellers and allows their curiosity (or drunkenness) to get the better of them...?! This thing will never ‘fly’ on this basis alone!!!
simon81
They call it EHang so why does the cabin not "Hang" from the prop arms rather than sit atop them. The potential injuries defy imagination. Just watching that fellow standing within range of a stationary prop gives me the heebie-jeebies. I can think of no reasons why they designed it this way...none. Can anyone explain? Maybe it is to make it look completely novel???
Towerman
@guzmanchinky not a concern at all, flight times will only improve with time, the important thing is that they are putting the craft out there, its gaining flight time and exposure, and ever so creeps closer to being ready for the big day when it will happen, and happen it will... and by the looks of how Ehang is pushing it, soon !
Towerman
@Signguy@martinwinlow@simon81 prop airplanes have been around for many decades AND are certified, how many people have you ever seen walk into a cessna prop or c130's props ?? Yes it has happened to a few, but then WHY are they still certified to fly ??? There is no cages around a cessna or c130 prop lol... your concerns is way out of touch with reality.

Helicopters are worse because you can chop off your hands and arms in an instant with the tailrotor (which happened to someone i know recently with a gazelle fantail which was Shrouded ! )

YET helicopters have been certified for longer than i existed. So all this babble above is just stale popcorn chatter

The Ehang looks GREAT as is and flies equally WELL... Leave the design as is, it works and looks great ! ! !

buzzclick
Honey! Can you get th- nnyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee oh crap, those buzzing air taxis are getting on my nerves, buzzing back and forth, all day. But they tell us we'll get used to it.

Emergencies? No problem. Tourism and taxis? Speak up, I can't hear you.
Arcticshade
pfffft ... Not anymore noisier than a monstrous helicopter landing on a busy road, everyone's like....where should i duck for cover should this thing come down ! O..wait conveying that to the person next to you was not possible because of the Noooooiiiiiisssssseeeeeeeeee So.....This VTOL is Perfect for Emergencies and Taxi's