Piloted test flight of HEXA flying car judged a success

OSAKA - A piloted test flight of a flying car in March 14 was judged a success and a step toward its first commercial flight in Japan at the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo.

The single seater was launched to a height of about eight meters, and completed vertical and circular aerial maneuvers.

A project team member said I was relieved. It is the first step towards offering flights to passengers. In the two-day demonstration, engineers measured noise levels and checked how wind affected the flight, according to Marubeni Corp., which will fly the aircraft in the expo.

According to the company, it was the first manned test flight of the vehicle in Osaka.

The HEXA flying car was created by the U.S. startup Lift Aircraft Inc.

The electric aircraft can fly up to 15 minutes with a maximum speed of 100 kph at 4.5 meters in width and 2.4 meters in height.

Marubeni and three other contractors will fly visitors between Yumeshima, the main venue, and downtown Osaka during the expo.

The transport ministry is working to introduce safety and traffic regulations for the aircraft by March 2024.