The first test flight of a 'flying taxi' was conducted at the Puschisty base in Russia's Sakhalin Island. The test marks the first officially recorded take-off of an unmanned aerial vehicle flying taxi, which carried a passenger on board.
According to the Russia Today website, Valery Limarenko, governor of Russia's Sakhalin region, noted that the vehicle can be operated in two modes: either unmanned or with a pilot on board.
The aircraft runs on an electric battery, can fly for up to 20 minutes, and reaches a speed of 50 km/h. The vehicle is equipped with a satellite navigation system and can move autonomously along pre-set routes. It is essentially a prototype for future flying taxi vehicles.
The trial was supervised by specialists from the unmanned aircraft division of Russian company Aurora, with Alexei Spinka, a participant in the 'Wings of Sakhalin' forum, taking part. The forum was held this year between 3 and 4 July. Aurora experts indicated that the final production model of the vehicle is expected to be completed in 2026, with a view to showcasing it at the Russian 'Wings of Sakhalin' forum in 2027.