Russia has taken its first official recorded flight of a "flying taxi" drone carrying a passenger.
The governor of Russia's Sakhalin region, Valery Limarenko, noted that the experiment was conducted at the Poshetsi aircraft testing base on Sakhalin Island, and said: "This vehicle can be used in two modes, either without a pilot or with a pilot on board. This aircraft is powered by an electric battery, can fly in the air for 20 minutes, and its speed reaches 50 km/h. The vehicle is equipped with a satellite navigation system, can move independently along predetermined routes, and is essentially a prototype of flying taxi vehicles."
The experiment was supervised by specialists from the drone division of the Russian company "Aurora", and Alexey Spinka, one of the participants in the "Wings of Sakhalin" forum held this year between July 3 and 4, took part in it.
Experts at Aurora indicated that the final prototype of this vehicle is expected to be completed in 2026, to be showcased during the Russian "Sakhalin Wings" forum in 2027.
In addition to Russia, many countries are working on developing and testing "flying taxi" vehicles, which are expected to contribute in the future to reducing traffic congestion on roads, and to be a modern and fast means of transportation.
