The annual Sun ’N Fun Aerospace event held in Lakeland Florida, between Tampa and Orlando, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year (April 9th-14th) and one eVTOL company is wowing the crowds.
LIFT is presently showcasing its HEXA aircraft and is allowing the public to fly the one-manned craft after a 45 minute instruction class via a simulator. In fact, the company has been already offering public flights in the HEXA for several weeks at Lakeland Airport, with this continuing on until April 28th.
The demand is so strong that flight times are quickly being filled by an enthusiastic public who wish to be one of the first to experience the so-called green aviation revolution. Even when the cost of using the simulator and all the additions is USD349.
The whole experience lasts approximately 2 hours and includes comprehensive ground training, allowing customers to familiarise themselves with the aircraft and its controls before flying the HEXA in a virtual reality flight simulator, offering a realistic preview of what’s next. Once fully trained, participants pilot HEXA themselves for 10 minutes, all under the guidance of experienced flight instructors.
These flights are possible because the HEXA is in a category that does not require a pilot’s license to fly it. The personal vehicle was designed in 2017 and has been shown and demonstrated around the world. Some of the early testing was done alongside the military.
Matt Chasen, CEO and Founder of LIFT Aircraft, enthused, “We are incredibly excited to bring the future of personal aviation to life with the launch of our customer eVTOL flights. We’re not just providing entertainment, we’re offering the chance to step into a new era of mobility. We’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aviation.”
The SUN ‘N FUN HEXA Simulator (Credit: LIFT)
The cost of actually buying such an aircraft when it comes on to the market this year is USD495,000. One small problem. The HEXA is a bit noisy (watch video).
With over 200,000 visitors expected during the week and more than 500 exhibitors, the SUN ‘N FUN show is attracting a lot of media attention with event organiser, Eric Crump, referring to the HEXA as “Jetson technology”, while being interviewed by Fox13 News.
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