Elon Musk is thinking about building an electric airplane that takes off vertically
- 8 years ago
Electric cars and and commercial spaceflight are clearly not enough.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he’s mulling how to provide super-convenient, electric-powered air travel.
When asked to reveal his “next great idea” during a brief Q&A session this week, Musk answered: “Well I have been thinking about the vertical takeoff and landing electric jet a bit more.
I mean, I think I have something that might close.
I’m quite tempted to do something about it.”
Neither the idea of an electric jet or a plane with the capacity for vertical take off and landing is revolutionary by itself.
In June 2015, an electric aircraft crossed the English Channel for the first time.
Meanwhile, Denver-based XTI Aircraft Company has been raising money to prototype a vertical-takeoff airplane, which the company says could be ready in three years.
And Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered aircraft, set a record in 2015 by crossing the Pacific Ocean.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said he’s mulling how to provide super-convenient, electric-powered air travel.
When asked to reveal his “next great idea” during a brief Q&A session this week, Musk answered: “Well I have been thinking about the vertical takeoff and landing electric jet a bit more.
I mean, I think I have something that might close.
I’m quite tempted to do something about it.”
Neither the idea of an electric jet or a plane with the capacity for vertical take off and landing is revolutionary by itself.
In June 2015, an electric aircraft crossed the English Channel for the first time.
Meanwhile, Denver-based XTI Aircraft Company has been raising money to prototype a vertical-takeoff airplane, which the company says could be ready in three years.
And Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered aircraft, set a record in 2015 by crossing the Pacific Ocean.