“This two-seater “taxi” will eventually be able to transport passengers not only around the city, but also between settlements.”, — write: www.unian.ua
This two-seater “taxi” will eventually be able to transport passengers not only around the city, but also between settlements.
HAM III-2 airship that can be a taxi / Youtube screenshot/@Interesting EngineeringThe South Korean company Sambo Motors Group presented a two-seater hybrid air taxi HAM III-2 at the CES 2025 exhibition. This device surpasses its predecessor, HAM III-1, in terms of size and performance, writes Interesting Engineering.HAM III-2 has a wingspan of 9 meters, a height of 4.5 meters, and a weight of 850 kilograms.
“Taking into account its range and duration of flight, it is suitable for military purposes, courier deliveries and commercial use. In the future, it can be used for city and long-distance air taxi,” the company representative said.
One of the key features of the HAM III-2 is “hybridity” – a dual power plant. For vertical take-off, only a rechargeable battery is used, which reduces the level of noise and emissions. After gaining altitude, it switches to hydrogen fuel cells for level flight, minimizing reliance on heavy on-board batteries.
In addition, the aircraft is equipped with four horizontal propellers for vertical lift and two large rear propellers for forward movement. This configuration allows it to develop a cruising speed of up to 180 km/h, cover distances of up to 100 km and stay in the air for up to 40 minutes.
Sambo Motors is preparing for a series of intensive flight tests in the United States in early 2025. Tests of fuel cells on hydrogen will be conducted in the desert. During the tests, key maneuvers such as climbs, descents and turns will be tested to confirm the performance and safety of this “taxi”.
The HAM III-2 is already undergoing certification with both the Korean Civil Aviation Authority and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This stage is planned to be completed by the end of 2025.
Other types of air taxiEarlier, UNIAN reported that the Toyota automobile corporation also shared its version of an air taxi. There was even the first international taxi demonstration flight, which showed the low noise level of this unmanned aerial vehicle.
In addition, a unique drone taxi was also shown in Seoul, which will be used to transport passengers from the international airport to the center of Seoul.
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