British company announces NeoXCraft flying car

A British company has joined the throng of firms proposing electrically powered, autonomously flown concept aircraft with the NeoXCraft.

The NeoXCraft is a joint project from Nottingham-based aviation company VRCO and the University of Derby, and is being designed to use scaled-up drone technology.

However, there’s one big difference – NeoXCraft is a flying car, with its four large ducted fans rotating through 90-degrees to become wheels for driving on the road.

NeoXCraft is said to be capable of 200mph in the air, and will cost £1.5m. Despite the high price, VRCO claims to have 100 orders already.

Daniel Hayes, CEO and co-founder of VRCO, told the Derby Telegraph newspaper, “We are about to build the prototypes to get it to certification and that’s going to take at least 18 months.

“If we are successful then we are hopeful of having something we can insure and sell. These will be supercars of the skies. They are luxury and high-performing.”

The NeoXCraft will have flight controllers capable of managing each individual engine, gimbal and fan blade pitch to keep the craft stable, to take off and land safely and to fly in the necessary direction, said VRCO.

“This configuration removes the need for elevators, rudders and other traditional aircraft components.

“The ducted fans are highly efficient and the blades are made of advanced composites which provide the strength.”

FAST FACTS
VRCO NeoXCraft
Two person capacity, 180kg payload
Cruise speed 180 knots, 200mph, 333 kph
Two-hour duration off a single charge
Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL)
Autonomous Flight
Ability to drive legally on roads
Hybrid and Electric Power
Switchable power pods for instant power off grid
Fast Recharge
Integrated Energy Recovery System (KERS)
Emergency parachute system

VRCO