Personal Recreational Vehicle Is Available For Pre-Order, No Price Set

Mountain View, CA-based Kitty Hawk has posted images and video of the most recent version of its Flyer personal recreational vehicle on its website.

The aircraft is essentially a drone scaled up to carry a person. Ten electric-powered rotors provide the lift and propulsion. The aircraft is currently designed to fly at up to 10 feet in altitude and up to 20 miles per hour. Depending on the weight of the occupant, battery life is estimated at 12-20 minutes.

Bloomberg reports that the aircraft will initially be marketed to luxury resorts or clubs for use over open water.

According to the Kitty Hawk website, the Flyer is designed to be easy to fly and flown for recreational purposes over water and uncongested areas. About two hours training will be required before a person is allowed to operate the aircraft. According to the company, in the U.S., Flyer operates under FAA CFR Part 103 - Ultralight. FAA does not require aircraft registration or pilot certification though flight training is highly encouraged. Ultralights may only be flown over uncongested areas.

The Flyer will make no more noise than a lawnmower to a person about 50 feet away from the aircraft, and about the same as a loud conversation to someone 250 feet away, according to the company.

While no price for the Flyer has been set, the company is currently taking pre-orders.

The company is also developing a two-place aircraft called Cora in New Zealand for possible use as an air taxi.

(Images provided by Kitty Hawk)

FMI: flyer.aero