By Dean Murray
A ÂŁ215,000 (nearly $300,000) flying racecar has been launched.
The Axion is a jet-powered, single-passenger VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft set to be capable of speeds up to 225 mph.
FusionFlight, a Texas-based startup, says the hatchback car-sized vehicle uses eight micro jet engines to power along.
Its flight time is 15 minutes on a full tank, and as it is fueled by diesel or kerosene, it can be refueled in minutes, avoiding the long charging times of electric aircraft.
Prototype of the Axiom flying vehicle. (FusionFlight via SWNS)
The design allows for rapid reconfiguration, making it adaptable to serve as a flying racecar, air ambulance, or cargo drone, all from the same platform.
Pilots can fly manually using joysticks or select a destination on a touchscreen for autonomous operation.
Prototype of the Axiom flying vehicle. (FusionFlight via SWNS)
FusionFlight say safety is enhanced by the paired engine layout, which, if one fails, the others keep the craft airborne.
The Axion is built to order, with a price tag of ÂŁ215k ($290k), and test flights are scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
Alex Taits, CEO of FusionFlight, said: "Sale of production models is scheduled for end of 2026.
"However, people can order experimental models "beta versions" on-demand starting at the end of 2025."
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