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Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

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Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#21

Post by mannykannot »

awillen wrote: post #15
icyfox wrote: post #8

As much as I want to live in a world with the Jetsons, what's the business case here? Presumably it's going to have to launch vertically from the top of buildings, which means that you can go from skyscraper landing pad to skyscraper landing pad. How many taxi users are trying to travel within a financial district? I imagine much more commonly they're trying to go from high-density to low-density (like FiDi to West V…

The best case I've heard is helping to reduce traffic to places that expect a large influx of folks at the same time. Concerts, for example - if you have a lot of these flying taxis, you can have people park in auxiliary lots that are 20 minutes away by car, then get shuttled over via air taxi. Depending on how many taxis and how fast the turnaround is, you could eliminate a non-negligible amount of traffic into/out…

At four people per vehicle, I doubt that you could achieve anything like a satisfactory throughput in this scenario, given reasonable traffic separation. Unloading will be one bottleneck, as each vehicle will need as much space as several buses, when you take into account sufficient separation to avoid unsafe aerodynamic interaction.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#22

Post by hef19898 »

jjj123 wrote: post #20

I’m really surprised by the noise levels. They say 65db flyover and 70db landing which is quieter than just about every (personal) drone [1]. I wonder how they’re getting those numbers. Like at what distance are they measuring from? I find it hard to believe they’re able to make a flying vehicle quieter than a drone 1/100th of its size. Edited for clarity [1]: https://www.airbornedrones.co/drone-noise-levels/

I would have to look up the details, but there are EASA certification standards covering noise level measurement. Looking at the pictures, I think they achieve low noise levels by having e-motors and mid sized props (multiple). That avoids engine noise, reduces individual prop noise and having something between rotors and turbines should be quieter than a conventional helicopter on the one side and something like jet on the other hand.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#23

Post by hef19898 »

ivanvanderbyl wrote: post #18

I wonder how much of this is in response to what Archer Aviation are doing with their Maker aircraft? It looks very similar in specs. https://www.archer.com/maker

If memory serves well, Airbus' programms, they have two competing ones, are quite old (around 2018 or so when it officially started, so the idea is most likely older).

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#24

Post by shafyy »

awillen wrote: post #15
icyfox wrote: post #8

As much as I want to live in a world with the Jetsons, what's the business case here? Presumably it's going to have to launch vertically from the top of buildings, which means that you can go from skyscraper landing pad to skyscraper landing pad. How many taxi users are trying to travel within a financial district? I imagine much more commonly they're trying to go from high-density to low-density (like FiDi to West V…

The best case I've heard is helping to reduce traffic to places that expect a large influx of folks at the same time. Concerts, for example - if you have a lot of these flying taxis, you can have people park in auxiliary lots that are 20 minutes away by car, then get shuttled over via air taxi. Depending on how many taxis and how fast the turnaround is, you could eliminate a non-negligible amount of traffic into/out…

Or - and hear me out here - the US could invest in their public transportation infrastructure. But sure, let's do flying taxis.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#25

Post by hef19898 »

ramesh31 wrote: post #17

The VTOL concept for air taxis is silly; this is just a 3d rendering for a press release, and battery energy density just isn't there yet for them to be useful. But electric flight is without a doubt going to revolutionize commuter airlines. With an electric powertrain, you get rid of the vast majority of costs associated with flying which are the intensive maintenance and overhaul schedules required for turboprop/tu…

The predecessor had its First Flight in 2019:

https://www.airbus.com/innovation/zero-emission/urban-air-mo...

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#26

Post by nradov »

blunte wrote: post #10
icyfox wrote: post #8

As much as I want to live in a world with the Jetsons, what's the business case here? Presumably it's going to have to launch vertically from the top of buildings, which means that you can go from skyscraper landing pad to skyscraper landing pad. How many taxi users are trying to travel within a financial district? I imagine much more commonly they're trying to go from high-density to low-density (like FiDi to West V…

There are probably enough people of financial means who are willing to pay for expensive and much faster taxi service, especially if they can go to the roof of the building they're currently in to depart. There are lots of reasons why this won't work, but it could work... and it could be quite useful in the right scenario. Lots of useful long distance flights leave early in the morning, meaning to get to the airport…

Chances are the roof of the building they're currently in will never have a heliport. Most buildings weren't designed to support the extra weight of a helipad (including equipment) plus aircraft, and the roofs are already covered with antennas and HVAC equipment.

In the foreseeable future there will only be a handful of heliports per city center. Most passengers will have to take ground transport to reach one.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#27

Post by coldcode »

adamqureshi wrote: post #14

There is a business use case here in NYC. NYC to the Hamptons or out east long Island. The locals in the Hamptons are complaining about noise pollution from helicopters making trips to the Hamptons from NYC. If this makes little or no noise the current helicopter service companies will use them and people will pay $800 ( off-peak) - $2,500 ( peak) one way trip from the west side of manhattan / Chelsea area to east Ha…

I can see it replacing helo service, presuming it can take off anywhere. As a general replacement for cars, no.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#28

Post by ojosilva »

In related news, Brazilian GOL Airlines just pre-ordered 250 eVTOL from Vertical Aerospaces for a 2025 delivery. So I think the market is heated-up right now.

https://worldairlinenews.com/2021/09/21/gol-to-launch-a-netw...

Brazil, and specially São Paulo, is a huge market for helicopters and air-taxi services in general, not to speak of regional air services, for which the VA-X4 aircraft is somewhat constrained with a mere 160km range.

Re: Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus

#30

Post by saddlerustle »

shafyy wrote: post #24
awillen wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The best case I've heard is helping to reduce traffic to places that expect a large influx of folks at the same time. Concerts, for example - if you have a lot of these flying taxis, you can have people park in auxiliary lots that are 20 minutes away by car, then get shuttled over via air taxi. Depending on how many taxis and how fast the turnaround is, you could eliminate a non-negligible amount of traffic into/out…

Or - and hear me out here - the US could invest in their public transportation infrastructure. But sure, let's do flying taxis.

Flying taxis is public transportation
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