The Macrobat air taxi is a radical and refreshing take on relatively small aircraft meant for short distances
At first sight, the Macrobat looks like a “bird that has mistakenly grown a pair of propellers.”
PHRontier for Agile Complex Technology sYstem evoLution (PHRACTYL) aims to build an environment-friendly effective flying machine that employs the power of electric propulsion.
Is that a bird? A plane? No, it’s a bird-shaped air taxi! Called “Macrobat,” this air taxi builds on the physical characteristics of birds to make flight possible.
The Macrobat air taxi is a radical and refreshing take on relatively small aircraft meant for short distances. As Interesting Engineering pointed out, at first sight, the Macrobat looks like a “bird that has mistakenly grown a pair of propellers.”
An environment-friendly mean flying machine
PHRontier for Agile Complex Technology sYstem evoLution (PHRACTYL) aims to build an environment-friendly effective flying machine that employs the power of electric propulsion.
The noble folks at PHRACTYL knew that battery technology still has long gaps to bridge before being used for mainstream flight. The Macrobat could change how we perceive flight.
The propulsion system works its magic at this point – kicking in to create the lift to give it flight. The PHRACTYL team has a coined a new phrase to differentiate this lift-off from air taxis built on conventional tech. It’s called “Near Vertical Take-Off and Landing” or NVTOL.
Once the Macrobat has reached optimum flight, the landing bird claws will retract as is typical for all flights. According to the PHRACTYL website, with a 150 kg payload, the Macrobat can attain top speeds of 180 kmph.