Workhorse SureFly is the Flying Transport of Your Dreams
flying | helicopter | technology | workhorse | workhorse surefly
Workhorse is the company behind that cool electric pickup truck we talked about a while back. The company has unveiled another high-tech vehicle, and this one is infinitely cooler than that truck. It’s called the SureFly and it is a personal flying vehicle designed to carry a pilot and a passenger.
Its four rotors are driven by electricity with eight motors each driving a single propeller. But sort of like a Chevy Volt, there’s a gas engine that drives dual generators to provide electricity to the motors. A pair of lithium ion batteries at 7.5kWh each are used for emergency backup power for five minutes of flight to let you land if the generator fails. The computer and electrical systems have full redundancy for safety. Early models will require a pilot, though the company is aiming for an autonomous version down the road.
The SureFly weighs in at just 1,100 pounds, with a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 pounds. It’s spec’d with a 4,000 foot flight ceiling, at speeds up to 70 mph. Its fuselage and props are made from carbon fiber, and the blades can fold down to save space when it’s not in use.
The SureFly is expected to sell for under $200,000(USD). It’s not clear when it might be available, though test flights start this year.