Blade Air Mobility’s Electric Vertical Aircraft: The Future of Air Transportation in New York City

Blade Air Mobility recently tested its new electric vertical aircraft (EVA) manufactured by BETA Technologies at Westchester County Airport.

[{"selector":"#anim-cfcef2c3-f17a-4d45-af18-0efcf019ffbb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0f0f89e-53e2-42cb-befd-3d9a6b636f96","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The EVA is almost completely silent and features a futuristic design that combines that of a small plane and a helicopter.

[{"selector":"#anim-d845619b-e7e7-4f06-a1f3-010e383e9907","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9978c0bb-c98f-4241-a829-e46bac50dd15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The low sound decibel level of the EVA, which is 1/10th of that of a conventional helicopter, addresses the growing concern over noise pollution from helicopters in New York.

[{"selector":"#anim-cf128858-49ce-4eb7-8d91-ba296f3633b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11bee7a8-766f-429d-bc41-f18acfad43dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The successful flight marks the first time a piloted electric vertical aircraft has been tested in the tri-state area.

[{"selector":"#anim-3d01cf53-80c8-4227-836f-f683dd201e20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c97a2fba-92b4-41b9-b15f-4c152687cc1c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal called the flight a "historic moment" for aviation in the city, as the demonstration represents a key first step in the transition from helicopters to new quiet and emission-free aircraft.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0e02f54-db5d-4d19-b3d4-32b3da059a3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea58931c-aa10-474c-8f7b-a4bf6a207679","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The ALIA-250 EVA flown during the test can fly up to six people and features a modern design with a range of features to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort.

[{"selector":"#anim-cdf804c6-4278-4639-a355-95d8bc7b9de1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74f9bb8d-2fe6-426e-9591-bb865a9a7ddb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The ALIA-250 EVA flown during the test can fly up to six people and features a modern design with a range of features to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort.

[{"selector":"#anim-ea422416-2eb2-499d-beda-fe246f3a0e4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e52e6a2-8c2d-4b32-84a5-e64e0802653f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Blade aims to have the EVA ready to carry passengers by 2026, and BETA targets Federal Aviation Administration approval in 2024.

[{"selector":"#anim-609214ad-c675-430d-896f-7aaf61f64f02","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee2de9c1-ec82-4ca9-8d90-e0e10db19ffd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Blade's existing helicopter service gives it a leg up on the competition in the transition from helicopters to electric vertical aircraft.

[{"selector":"#anim-9b7849bd-9334-45e4-ac0c-70aa299f624a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64feb07d-7b9d-4f5e-b09a-add5d9b4c03e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The flight is a significant step forward for the urban air mobility industry and a milestone in Blade and BETA's continued partnership to provide sustainable and quiet air transportation to their customers.

[{"selector":"#anim-f81a2ca9-3bbe-4143-999a-aea836f04196","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-842df828-0076-4905-bf46-bbd7f92158cf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Blade Air Mobility’s Electric Vertical Aircraft: The Future of Air Transportation in New York City

Blade Air Mobility recently tested its new electric vertical aircraft (EVA) manufactured by BETA Technologies at Westchester County Airport.

The EVA is almost completely silent and features a futuristic design that combines that of a small plane and a helicopter.

The low sound decibel level of the EVA, which is 1/10th of that of a conventional helicopter, addresses the growing concern over noise pollution from helicopters in New York.

The successful flight marks the first time a piloted electric vertical aircraft has been tested in the tri-state area.

Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal called the flight a "historic moment" for aviation in the city, as the demonstration represents a key first step in the transition from helicopters to new quiet and emission-free aircraft.

The ALIA-250 EVA flown during the test can fly up to six people and features a modern design with a range of features to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort.

The ALIA-250 EVA flown during the test can fly up to six people and features a modern design with a range of features to ensure the highest levels of safety and comfort.

Blade aims to have the EVA ready to carry passengers by 2026, and BETA targets Federal Aviation Administration approval in 2024.

Blade's existing helicopter service gives it a leg up on the competition in the transition from helicopters to electric vertical aircraft.

The flight is a significant step forward for the urban air mobility industry and a milestone in Blade and BETA's continued partnership to provide sustainable and quiet air transportation to their customers.

more stories

Cybertruck Delayed as Tesla Dominates German & European EV Market