Rolls‑Royce’s New Hybrid “Flying Taxi” Soars into Reality
Picture this: your daily commute suddenly feels more like a sci‑fi adventure. Rolls‑Royce, the Big Blue engine maker, has dropped a bombshell at the Farnborough Airshow—a hybrid electric vertical‑take‑off and landing (EVTOL) bird nicknamed the Flying Taxi. And get this: it’s slated to lift off and land like a helicopter in a few years.
What We’re Talking About
In a bold move, the Derby‑based company says they’ll roll out a prototype in the next 18 months and be flight‑ready by the end of next year—meaning you could be hopping from London to Paris in a electrified personal airliner soon enough.
- Seats: 4–5 passengers
- Range: ~500 miles (805 kilometres)
- Top speed: 200 mph (about as fast as a sprinting cheetah on wheels)
Rob Watson, the electrical genius heading the team, bragged, “In this market, something like this will take to the skies within three to five years, and we’ll be demonstrating the system in two years.” A high‑flier’s confidence, indeed.
Why a Hybrid?
Rolls‑Royce has spent a handful of single‑digit millions developing a hybrid propulsion system that marries a traditional gas‑turbine engine with electric power. According to Watson, all‑electric planes are great for short hops around the city, but throwing 200–300 miles of pure electric vision into the mix? That’s a tough nut to crack with current tech.
“If you want to jump from London to Paris, you’ll need that extra range power,” he mused. “So, we’re talking hybrid propulsion—keep the electric buzz while the turbine keeps the dream alive.”
Who’s Chasing the Sky?
Rolls‑Royce isn’t flying solo. Here’s a quick squad roll‑call of other players tilting toward the same niche:
- Uber’s aspirations for air taxis
- Google‑backed Kitty Hawk (yes, that’s still flying)
- Lilium Aviation (Germany)
- Safran in France
- Honeywell in the U.S.
Balancing Act: Automotive Meets Aviation
Watson compared this to the auto industry, noting that internal combustion engines were the default, and progressively more electric was layered on top, leading to electric cars—the same evolutionary ladder Rolls‑Royce is riding in the skies.
Potential Game‑Changer?
Oliver Wyman’s David Stewart saw the electric boom as a “potential disruptor” that might eventually replace kerosene‑driven jets, but warned the road’s long. “Rolls‑Royce’s concept is a testing platform; the real commercial swirl will involve a 10–15 seat scaled‑up version,” he said.
Watson added, “We’re learning today the tech we’ll need tomorrow. Over time, more electrical capability means bigger, bigger aircraft.” That’s the sky‑high promise we’re all hyped about.
