真的上天了！电动飞的首次试飞成功

总部位于德国的创业公司Lilium近日发布视频显示，小型全电动原型机Eagle首次试飞成功。去年12月，Lilium获得近1100万美元投资，主要用来研发类似优步的空中出租飞机以缓解城市拥堵。

Eagle并不是会飞的汽车，没有路上行驶的功能，但因其功能十分灵活所以相当有吸引力。Lilium在视频中宣传的核心技术是垂直起降，因而不需要跑道，在楼顶上就可以接送乘客。Eagle采用电动喷射口，起飞和降落时可移动的管道电风扇集中向下送风，提供向上的动力。

Lilium宣布的性能数据相当亮眼，最高时速可达186英里（约合每小时300公里），单次航程可达186英里。Lilium联合创始人帕特里克·内森接受科技网站The Verge采访时表示，Eagle上装配的电池“与特斯拉汽车同款”，该公司还表示飞机能耗与电动汽车相仿。

目前公布的原型机为两座设计，由一位飞行员驾驶。不过Lilium已经宣布正在研发五座版并装备无人驾驶系统。

不过短期内飞行出租车在城市里应用还面临巨大阻碍。虽然特斯拉首席执行官埃隆·马斯克曾表示可能有一天会解决电动飞机问题，但也表示怀疑城市是否适合小型飞机通行。马斯克提出，小型飞机可能导致大量噪音并干扰空气流动，还有可能“天上突然掉个车轮盖砸破路人脑袋。”

近年来城市飞行遭限制主要原因就是噪声问题，2010年纽约市就出台规定限制直升机。不过电动飞机比用天然气的直升机噪声可能小一些。

尽管阻力重重，业界研发小型空中出租车的热情未减，除了刚推出的Eagle，既能上路又能上天的飞行汽车也在不断完善。至少已有四家企业推出了原型机或宣布制造计划。（财富中文网）

译者：Pessy

审稿：夏林

Germany-based Lilium has released a video showing what it says is the first successful series of test flights of the Eagle, its prototype of a tiny, all-electric jet. Last December, Lilium secured just short of $11 million in funding towards developing Uber-like flight-on-demand to help relieve urban congestion.

It’s not quite a flying car—it doesn’t have a road-driving mode—but the Eagle has much of the same flexibility that makes them appealing. Key to Lilium’s game plan is the vertical takeoff shown in the video, which would allow it to operate without a runway and pick up passengers from rooftops. The Eagle is propelled by electric jets whose thrust is redirected downwards by movable vents for takeoff and landing.

Lilium makes some truly impressive claims for their vehicle, saying that they can achieve a top speed of about 186 miles per hour and a range of 186 miles per charge. Speaking to The Verge, Lilium co-founder Patrick Nathen says the craft uses “the same battery that you can find in any Tesla,” and the company says the Eagle's in-flight power consumption is comparable to an electric car's.

The current prototype has two seats and is guided by a human pilot, but Lilium has said it is developing a five-seat version piloted by autonomous systems.

But there are significant obstacles to seeing flying taxis in a city near you anytime soon. Though he has said he might one day tackle electric flight, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also poked holes in the potential for small aircraft in cities. Among other points, Musk says they’d generate an excessive amount of noise and air disturbance, and could “drop a hubcap and guillotine you.”

The noise problem alone has led to restrictions on urban flight in recent years, with New York City in 2010 curtailing helicopter tours. Electric aircraft, though, will likely be quieter than gas-fueled choppers.

Potential headwinds haven't stopped recent efforts to develop both small air-taxis like the Eagle, and flying cars proper, which could move on roads as well as through the air. At least four companies have announced prototypes or unveiled production vehicles.