What is a VTOL?

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By abdulwahab855ch 13 Min Read

VTOL drones, with their vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, have revolutionized the way we perceive personal transportation and recreational activities. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie seeking an extraordinary flying experience or an enthusiast looking to explore the skies, this article will present you with a curated selection of the finest VTOL drones available on the market. From impressive flight performance to cutting-edge features, let’s delve into the world of EVTOL drones and see the best options to uplift your personal drone experiences.

BEST EVTOL Drones:

  1. Jetson One by Jetson

EVTOL drones

Price: 

98,000 USD

Description:

Jetson One is developed by Jetson and is a single-seater EVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) PAV (personal aerial vehicle). It comes with an Aluminum and carbon-fiber composite chassis that can support a person weighing up to 210 lbs. 

It is also equipped with four, coaxial rotors with a total of 8 propellers. The following are the specifications:

General infoSingle Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight95 kg / 210 lbs.
Empty Weight86 kg /190 lbs.
Speed (mph)102 kph / 63.5 mph
Range (mil.)
Ceiling (ft)1500 ft
Power SourceLi-ion
MotorBrushless
  1. Blackfly by Opener

What is a VTOL?

Price:

N/A

Description

Blackfly is a single-seater EVTOL powered by 8 electric motors. This PAV (personal aerial vehicle) comes with a tandem wing and a carbon fiber airframe thus ensuring sufficient strength and also a reduced weight. 

The aircraft has also been designed with maximum redundancies in propulsion and control surfaces (such as 4 elevons) for maximizing the safety features for the user.

S#SpecificationsValue
1Maximum Pilot weight230 lbs. 
2Flight Range20+ miles
3Cruise Speed60 mph
4Battery8 kWh
5Charging conditions120 V / 15 A 20% – 100% Charge 8 hrs240 V / 50 A 20% – 100% Charge 1 hr
  1. Recon by Ryse Aero Tech

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

150,000 USD

Description: 

Recon is a single-seater eVTOL UAV developed by Ryse Aero Tech. This PAV features an open cockpit for a single person. For safety, it features multiple propellers for redundancies. The following are the specifications.

General infoSingle Seater EVTOL Multirotor
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)63 mph
Range (mil.)25 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power Source
Motor6x Electric motors
  1. Heaviside by Kitty Hawk

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

N/A

General Info: 

Heaviside is a twin-seater EVTOL currently under development by Kitty Hawk. The design features eight rotors with a tilting mechanism to aid in both VTOL as well as forward flight.

The following are the main specifications of this design:

General infoSingle Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight2200 lbs.
Speed (mph)180 mph
Range (mil.)100 miles
Ceiling (ft)5000 ft
Power SourceBatteries 
Motor8x electric motors, tilt
  1. Dragon PAV by Rotor X Dragon

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

89,500 USD

General Info: 

Dragon PAV personal air vehicle is another highly compact single-seater eVTOL with a total of eight electric motors to assist in both VTOL as well as forward cruise mode. The airframe is manufactured from carbon fiber and aluminum.

General infoSingle Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight250 lbs.
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)63 mph
Range (mil.)
Ceiling (ft)
Power Source16kW; Lipo 100V Batteries
Motor8x electric motors
  1. Axe by Skyfly Technologies

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

180,566 USD

Description:

The Axe is a twin-seater EVTOL with hybrid-electric propulsion. This type of propulsion consists of a compact piston engine driving an electric generator that charges the batteries simultaneously while they are being used. This provides a significant jump in endurance and range as mentioned below.

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemHybrid-electric
Passenger Weight380 lbs.
Empty Weight400 lbs.
Speed (mph)100 mph
Range (mil.)100 – 300 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Battery Li-ion
Motor8 x 35 kW Brushless + Generator
  1. Ehang 216 by Ehang

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

336,000$

General Info: 

Ehang 216 is a twin-seater EVTOL multi-copter. This PAV comes with 16 propellers to assist in takeoff and forward flight. It has an electric propulsion system comprising electric batteries rated at 17 kW.

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL Heli
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight574 lbs.
Empty Weight794 lbs.
Speed (mph)93 mph
Range (mil.)45 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Battery 17 kW 
Motor16 x BLDC
  1. VoloCity by Volocopter

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

269,000 USD

General Info: 

VoloCity is a twin-seater eVTOL produced by Volocopter. It comes with a total of 18 electric motors powered by Li-ion batteries. Apart from the added thrust, the motors also provide redundancies and improve the safety net for the pilot.

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight440 lbs.
Empty Weight1540 lbs.
Speed (mph)68 mph
Range (mil.)22 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Battery 9x Li-ion
Motor18x BLDC
  1. AirOne by Air

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

150,000 USD

General info: 

AirOne by Air is a Twin seater EVTOL aircraft. The aircraft is currently produced as a technology demonstrator and is awaiting certification by FAA (Federal aviation authority).

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight550 lbs.
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)155 mph
Range (mil.)110 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power Source575 kW; 1 hr charging time
Motor8 x BLDC
  1. ALIA by Beta Technologies

What is a VTOL?

Price:

4 million USD

General Info: 

ALIA is a twin-seater eVTOL developed by Beta Technologies as a transport plane for cargo. It features 5 electric motors. The four vertical rotors assist in VTOL mode. Once it transitions to a fixed-wing mode, the main horizontal rotor provides the necessary thrust.

The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 7000 lbs. Due to a fixed-wing design, it has a longer endurance and range as compared to a rotary-wing PAV.

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL + Cargo
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)
Range (mil.)250 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power SourceBatteries; 1hr charging
Motor5x electric motors; 1 forward flight, 4 VTOL
  1. Vimana AAV by Vimana Global

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

N/A

General Info:

Vimana is a rotary wing eVTOL aircraft that has a seating capacity for four individuals (including one pilot). The aircraft has a hybrid electric propulsion system as also demonstrated by its long-range capability.

The aircraft is currently under development by Vimana Global.

General info4-seater autonomous EVTOL
Propulsion SystemHybrid-electric with ducted fans
Passenger Weight882 lbs.
Empty Weight2315 lbs.
Speed (mph)152 mph
Range (mil.)559 miles
Ceiling (ft)9843
Power Source200 kW Hybrid 
Motor8 x 60kW Electric motors
  1. City Airbus by Airbus

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

N/A

General Info: 

City Airbus is an eVTOL currently under development by Airbus. It is a four-seater EVTOL aircraft with an electric propulsion system.

The aircraft has 8 ducted electric fans. These are electric motors that drive propellers enclosed in a duct. This generally provides a high bypass ratio, thus increasing the thrust.

General info4-seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric with ducted fans
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)75 mph
Range (mil.)
Ceiling (ft)
Power Source4x Electric batteries (140 kW)
Motor8 x Ducted electric motors (100 kW each)
  1. Joby S4 by Joby AviationWhat is a VTOL?

Price: 

2.2 million USD

General Info:

Joby S4 is a multi-copter capable of seating five individuals. It has electric propulsion with 6 ducted electric fans that are capable of tilting to transition from VTOL mode to fixed-wing flight. Thus, it is capable of providing higher speeds and greater ranges as compared to its rotary wing counterparts.

Due to its long range and high speed in addition to higher passenger capability, this aerial vehicle (AV) is an excellent UAM (urban air mobility) solution

General info5-Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric with ducted fans
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)200 mph
Range (mil.)150 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power SourceLi-Ni-Co-Mn-O
Motor6x ducted electric motors
  1. Midnight by Archer

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

10 million USD

General Info: 

Midnight by Archer is a five-seater EVTOL aircraft with electric propulsion. It consists of ducted electric fans that are capable of tilting to change the thrust direction. The fans are powered by electric batteries and they aid in the transition from VTOL to fixed-wing mode.

General info5-Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric with ducted fans
Passenger Weight1,000+ lbs.
Empty Weight6000 lbs.
Speed (mph)150 mph
Range (mil.)20-50 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power Source6x battery packs
Motor12x electric motors
  1. Lilium Jet by Lilium

What is a VTOL?

Price

7-10 million USD

General Info:

Lilium Jet is a seven-seater EVTOL with 36 ducted electric fans. These fans are capable of vectoring and changing the direction of thrust. Such a propulsion system assists the AV to get a high cruise speed and cover larger ranges with high load-carrying capabilities.

Specs: 

General info7-seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric with ducted fans
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)155 mph
Range (mil.)155 miles
Ceiling (ft)10000
Battery 
Motor36 x Ducted fans
  1. ASKA A5 by ASKA FLY:

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

789,000 USD

General Info:

ASKA A5 is a four-seater EVTOL with hybrid electric propulsion. It comes with a total of six tiltable electric motors capable of providing VTOL and cruise flight. The motors are powered by Li-ion batteries that are charged by an onboard gasoline engine during flight.

General info4-seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemHybrid Electric
Passenger Weight
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)150 mph
Range (mil.)250 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power SourceLi-ion batteries + engine
Motor6 x electric motors
  1. Voyager X2 by Xpeng

What is a VTOL?

Price: 

148,000 USD

General Info: 

Developed by the Chinese firm Xpeng, Voyager X2 is a twin-seater EVTOL with an electric propulsion system. The propulsion is provided by 8x propellers attached to electric motors. In addition to added thrust, these additional motors provide redundancy, so that if one fails the others can safely land the aircraft.

General infoTwin Seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight1235 lbs
Empty Weight794 lbs
Speed (mph)81 mph
Range (mil.)
Ceiling (ft)984-1640 
Power SourceLi-ion batteries 
Motor8x electric motors
  1. VX-4 by Vertical Aerospace

What is a VTOL?

Price:

4 million USD

General Info:

VX-4 is a five-seater EVTOL with electric propulsion. The aircraft comes with a total of eight rotors, four of which are tiltable. These tiltable rotors assist in vertical takeoff and landing, whereas in cruise flight, all eight rotors provide forward thrust.

VX-4 has been designed as an ultimate UAM (urban air mobility) solution owing to its large load-carrying capability at higher speeds with better range.

General info5-seater EVTOL
Propulsion SystemElectric
Passenger Weight992 lbs
Empty Weight
Speed (mph)150 mph
Range (mil.)100 miles
Ceiling (ft)
Power Sourcebatteries
Motor8x tiltable electric motors

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