German Flying Car Soars Over Osaka Ahead Of 2025 Expo

The developer of "flying cars" planned for use during the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka held a test flight recently, as reported by Takumi Fujikawa for Mainichi Shimbun.

Germany-based Volocopter GmbH invited Osaka Prefecture's Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura to the test flight of its one-seater vehicle, the Volocopter 2X, at Osaka Heliport in Konohana Ward. I Photo: Volocopter

Germany-based Volocopter GmbH invited Osaka Prefecture's Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura to the test flight of its one-seater vehicle, the Volocopter 2X, at Osaka Heliport in Konohana Ward.

The 10-meter-long, 2.1-meter-high, 650-kilogram test vehicle has no wheels and is capable of vertical takeoff and landing thanks to 18 rotors driven by electric motors.

Volocopter GmbH said it is working with Japan Airlines Co. on a larger twin-seat version, called Volocity, to take passengers on flights during the 2025 Expo.

Governor Yoshimura, the city of Osaka's Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, and around 300 pupils from local elementary, junior high, and high schools viewed the test flight. Once the vehicle lifted off, it reached an altitude of around 40 meters and flew to the northwest for around seven minutes.

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