1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

 

That'll stop the forum's brave taxi meter crusaders from opening the door and jumping out when the driver refuses to turn on the meter. You know who you are.

 

 

Everyone should be a meter crusader........................or take a BOLT.

7 hours ago, nauseus said:

On 8/4/2025 at 9:44 AM, Spilornis said:

Interesting idea but 500??

 

Well, they might need a lot off spares.

 

Maybe they're disposable?

12 hours ago, Bangkok Alex said:

I was thinking the same thing. It seems like they are gambling a huge chunk of money on a risky new product.

 

Make or break type of situation 

Definitely safer than Thai police helicopters!! Personally I think it will do very well in the niche market of high end tourism!

8 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Up to 500. The headline is misleading.

Dear 'thumbs down', since you disagree with my comment why not post your reason? Read both the headline and the text and you will see the conflict.

On 8/4/2025 at 3:44 AM, Spilornis said:

Interesting idea but 500??

I had to start reading this as I thought the numbers of passengers was 500

 

13 hours ago, frankie machine said:

no way that thing will hold 500 passengers.   497 at the most.  

That was my first thought, a bit small to carry 500. I suppose that is why in engineering you say x quantity off or in building x quantity number to avoid confusion.

200-400 km range?

 

Nice concept .... but that's a wide range of ranges ...... so you set off to fly from Bangkok to Buriram but have to put down in Saraburi for a charge?

 

 

9 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

200-400 km range?

 

Nice concept .... but that's a wide range of ranges ...... so you set off to fly from Bangkok to Buriram but have to put down in Saraburi for a charge?

 

 

Buriram is only a bit over 300kms so it could do that quite easily. I assume the wide range is because there will be different models for different applications, just like we have with EVs. 

I don't think these things are a great idea, but don't see why Buriram wouldn't be achievable.

Ya 200-400 km range ? Maybe hopping islands in the Maldives.. 

The price seems a little expensive  at 3,5 million $ a piece  for 4-5 passengers...

Captain , Assistant Captain,  Petrol,  Airport costs et et + amortisation of investment?

What you make those people pay for a flight ?  Something we don't know ?

50 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Dear 'thumbs down', since you disagree with my comment why not post your reason? Read both the headline and the text and you will see the conflict.

 

I see no mention of "up to" in neither the headline nor the text.

 

Closest is "up for" in the text where it says "signed up for 500 electrical . . . . "

 

The original reports in the Chinese press a couple of weeks ago never mentioned "up to" either.

15 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Buriram is only a bit over 300kms so it could do that quite easily. I assume the wide range is because there will be different models for different applications, just like we have with EVs. 

I don't think these things are a great idea, but don't see why Buriram wouldn't be achievable.

Is it different versions, or is it different weather conditions?  On a full charge - could go 400 Km in warm weather with a following wind, but only 200 km on a colder day or with a head wind?

 

So in practice you'd need to limit trips to 200 km ..... which would not get you to the Moto GP.

15 hours ago, frankie machine said:

I picture a small group of elites making an obscene pile of money off this "transaction".   I wonder if any of these devices will actually fly, or will they all end up in some out of the way piece of land. 

 

Betcha they already have a contract with the Thai navy......

 

46 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Is it different versions, or is it different weather conditions?  On a full charge - could go 400 Km in warm weather with a following wind, but only 200 km on a colder day or with a head wind?

 

So in practice you'd need to limit trips to 200 km ..... which would not get you to the Moto GP.

Yeah, one of those freezing cold Thai days. I think EVs here perform at the better end of the range consistently, there's no way that the weather here can make such a difference. 

Probably passenger load is more likely. 400kms with one passenger, 200kms with five + luggage. Or different battery sizes for different applications.

But again, I don't know, just speculating and guessing.

 

'Meter no work"

"The company plans to produce three to five VE25-100 aircraft in 2025 with the goal of starting commercial test runs by 2026, pending successful certification. Volant has secured strategic cooperation agreements and letters of intent (LOIs) with seven companies for over 700 aircraft orders worth more than $2 billion (USD). Key potential buyers include China Southern Airlines General Aviation, AVIC International Holding Corporation, Huaxia Feidi Technology, Ruohang Industrial Technology Group and Yalie General Aviation."

 

https://evtol.news/volant-aerotech-ve25-x1-technology-demonstrator

 

 

May 2025:

"To date, the company has secured strategic partnerships and orders for more than 860 aircraft, valued at ¥22B (USD $3B), including two firm orders. These cover six major eVTOL applications: low-altitude sightseeing, training, short-distance transport, cargo, emergency rescue and urban mobility. It has eight lift propellers plus two large pusher propellers aft of the wing for cruise."

 

https://evtol.news/news/chinese-evtol-aircraft-directory-part-1

 

 

7 hours ago, zepplin said:

Definitely safer than Thai police helicopters!! Personally I think it will do very well in the niche market of high end tourism!

It definitely can. But as you know, things can go wrong. One crash and the company's reputation goes down just like that. It's just a bold and risky investment in my eyes.

What? No AI pilot flying it? Maybe Musk will provide some self driving software for that.

The most likely use that I can see for these is search and rescue missions in inhospitable and remote terrain. The Maldives make sense given the number of inhabited small islands, parts of Africa, maybe Australian outback? 
 

Urban areas seem less likely to me and in terms of commercial passenger traffic, who the heck would trust one of these things? You hear of enough helicopter accidents to give pause for thought.

19 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

Wow, talk about missing the entire point of a VTOL (vertical take off and landing) aircraft, it will most certainly not be used from airport to airport, they already have airplanes for that!

Wow the already have Helicopters also, smart guy

13 hours ago, Marco100 said:

Ya 200-400 km range ? Maybe hopping islands in the Maldives.. 

The price seems a little expensive  at 3,5 million $ a piece  for 4-5 passengers...

Captain , Assistant Captain,  Petrol,  Airport costs et et + amortisation of investment?

What you make those people pay for a flight ?  Something we don't know ?

 

Airport costs, Why can't I park it at my house and use it for the daily commute to and from work?

 

Being electric should be fairly frugal on petrol usage.

13 hours ago, treetops said:

 

I see no mention of "up to" in neither the headline nor the text.

 

Closest is "up for" in the text where it says "signed up for 500 electrical . . . . "

 

The original reports in the Chinese press a couple of weeks ago never mentioned "up to" either.

You are correct Sir, I apologise. I now realise I had read, near simultaneously, another article in the aviation press which reported the 'intent to purchase' of up to 500. 

I think most countries have rules relating to helicopters and heliports.  I suspect that eVTOLS may not immediately change these rules as Regulators may choose to stay as-is to keep things as safe as possible.  They might get limited to existing heliports?  Not sure.  Things might move differently in the future of course.