The Volocopter's longer-range drone taxi goes on its first test flights

The Volocopter's drone taxi is one step closer to being put into operation. The German firm has announced that its four-seat electric VTOL aircraft, the VoloConnect, completed its first test flight in May. The machine's maiden voyage was brief at two minutes and 14 seconds, but the techniques demonstrated that the production-level aerodynamics and performance were still effective in real world scenarios. There have been three flights thus far.

The 60-mile range and 155 miles per hour speed might not appear to be a lot. However, they claim that the VoloConnect may fly you as far as 150 kilometers away from major cities and still land safely. The VoloConnect is designed to operate alongside the VoloCity, a shorter-ranged eVTOL aircraft intended only for short urban flights.

The VoloConnect is set to begin operations in 2026, two years after the VoloCity's planned 2024 introduction. While that's a long time away, while Volocopter is one of few firms to conduct real-world flight tests with multiple air taxis. The firm is closer than rivals to actual commuter flights, many of whom have only one model or no timetable for service.