Would it possible to cluster the mini fans in both X and Y directions, inside a larger nacelle, instead of just along the X-axis. What I have in mind is a cargo vehicle, or flying people carrier, similar to the spacecraft Supernova-9 in the cartoon Escape From Planet Earth. That would be mega cool!

thanks for this article! so, ilium and alike admit calculating with 30 seconds of vertical flight time. At take-off, it might be doable within 20 seconds only, so you get 10 seconds reserve time when landing. are they kidding? Reserve time is essential, e.g. for helicopter operations this reserve time can be reduced up to minimum 20 minutes as they can land nearly anywhere. similar rules could be applied for any air traffic, including eVTOLs. If they orbit like a plane, reserve time will likely be similar to planes, e.g. 45 minutes. obviously, technology need to go far beyond to make these concepts work.

They might just be blowing smoke, but it does seem that there's a lot of airport-feeder and intercity commute that could be fed by this kind of aircraft rather than buses and minivans, with a significant time savings. Also, mostly outside the US, there are a lot of short-runway air routes that could be supplanted/extended.

Before they can fly, they have to get off the ground and not a chance in hell these low thrust units can lift plane, pilot, battery of any range and 7 people. And I disagree they are better in flight as so much friction, interference drag/lb thrust.
The graph shows just why 1-2 and large slow turning lightly loaded rotors will not just win lift off but most flights to 150 miles.
There are numerous very STOL types with 1-2 large props that can take off, land in 100' will handle 75-500 mile range.
Their secret too is large efficient 1-2 props, large wing/rotor or Gyro area.
Done right these are very low cost, impact but so far few viable ones, just fantasies like Lilium, multicopters.

I'm surprised that with all the VTOL development underway for many years I haven't yet seen one in the sky in a commercial use. I realize there are FAA hurdles and such, but am curious as to when.

Wouldn't it be possible for the eVTOLs to either land on tall platforms to reduce the vertical climb to horizontal flight, or land on the ground and be lifted to the top of tall platforms by elevators? Especially in areas with few or no sky-scrapers.

That even makes sense, SCORE!

While I agree that unducted or open rotor commuter air taxis are too hazardous for most city uses, I prefer the Fluidic VTOL design featured in an earlier New Atlas article. No hot exhaust and no open rotor blades to injure the passengers, many of whom do not have the sense to pour cold pi$$ out of their own boots let alone respect aircraft hazards. Even professional flight line workers have been known to absentmindedly walk into a aircraft prop or be sucked into a jet engine

when I saw those rows of fans on the wings, immediately I thought of the fans in rack mount servers, and anyone in IT knows how insanely noisy those things are, this is a terrible idea. small, high speed fans are really noisy and seriously inefficient.

Just wondering what effect those fans have on the wing's lifting ability.