It was just a week ago where coverage of Malaysia’s first ‘Flying Car’ spiked, thanks to things said in parliament. Things were said and ultimately what happened was no permission was given for any test flights of the ‘Flying Car’ in question, the 16-rotor Ehang 216.
Since then, things have quietened down. Even as recently as yesterday, the Star reported no new developments. Yet today we received this video via Whatsapp showing the Ehang 216 flying in what looks like a Malaysian airfield.
Of course, we can’t confirm this happened in Malaysia, but our source insists this is indeed the UniKL/Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology’s hangar in Subang. Anybody looking to fly drones, cars or craft in that airspace is required to get permission from Subang Airport. So unless this permission was attained privately and not announced, that might make this little stunt illegal.
Whether or not you’re on board with this whole flying car scheme, we all have to agree that it’s done the right way.
Anybody with additional information on the video above, please send it to us in the comments or through email at [email protected].
Ehang 216 Specs and details from Wikipedia:
“The 216 is a two-seater with 16 propellers in a coaxial double-baled design. It has made over 1,000 manned flights by July 2018 and its maximum range flown was 8.8 km (5.5 miles). It can fly 25 min for a range of 30–40 km (16–22 nmi). The aircraft is targeted for autonomous flying, to be monitored from an Ehang or its customer command-and-control center. Austrian aerostructures supplier FACC AG partnered with Ehang to certify and produce the aircraft in Europe, within simpler certification requirements for takeoff weights below 600 kg (1,320 lb).
In October 2018, the CAAC approved initial passenger operations at specific locations to develop urban air taxis regulations. Ehang began taking preorders since, for island-hopping and to a Chinese coastal resort for aerial sightseeing within their site. A 1 km (0.54 nmi) shuttle across the river of its home city of Guangzhou should avoid a 30 min drive due to traffic congestion on the downtown bridge. US biotechnology company United Therapeutics, manufacturing organs for human transplants, should test rapid automated delivery from laboratory to hospital by the end of 2019.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: None (self-piloted)
- Capacity: 2 passengers 260kg
- Length: 5.61 m (18 ft 5 in)
- Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
- Propellers: 16-bladed
Performance
- Maximum speed: 160 km/h (99 mph, 86 kn)
- Cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
- Minimum control speed: 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn)
- Range: 16 km (9.9 mi, 8.6 nmi)”
