Whereas most designs for new, VTOL aircraft offer incremental improvements in the state of the art, the X-Hawk flying platform presents a revolutionary advance in both the mobility and utility of VTOL aircraft.
X-Hawk is a 'rotorless' Vertical-Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. To be more precise, it is an aircraft that has the VTOL capability of a helicopter, but without the exposed rotors that make it dangerous or impossible for helicopters to maneuver in complex urban and natural environments.
Moreover, X-Hawk's modular cargo bay allows for tailor-made, task specific configurations that enable this aircraft to be an all-around workhorse. Some of the most obvious applications include, aerial medical access and evacuation, power-line maintenance, bridge inspection and ship-to-shore taxi service, to name a few.
The larger of the vehicles, the X-Hawk, is roughly the size of a small truck and can seat 12 people while the smaller aircraft, the Mule, is designed to transport the wounded or supplies.
Neither of the vehicles are airborne yet but the company has secured a patent for the technology.
The cars will be able to reach a maximum speed of 155mph and could cost up to £3.1 million.
An Israeli firm is developing the prototypes for two flying cars that will make it easier to carry out emergency rescues.