The single-seat flying vehicle Zero, with its uniquely flat round design, has successfully completed its first hover test flight lasting over 4 minutes.
Zero looks like a UFO in science fiction movies.
Last November, American company Zeva Aero announced it would soon conduct flight tests with the vertical takeoff and landing vehicle Zero. The company fulfilled its plan by releasing a video of the test on January 9.
Zero resembles a UFO from science fiction films. This vehicle has a disc-shaped design made from carbon fiber, with a diameter of 2.4 meters. It is considered a personal aircraft capable of transitioning from vertical takeoff mode to forward flight mode.
Zeva Aero is awaiting patent approval for this new design. The company states that Zero combines the best features of multi-rotor aircraft with an aerodynamically shaped fuselage, resulting in an efficient aircraft with a longer flight range.
Zero is battery-powered and emissions-free. The first unmanned flight test, which did not require tethering, took place in Pierce County, Washington. It completed four flights with over 4 minutes of controlled hovering, simulating slow-speed maneuvers and vertical ascents. Zeva Aero considers this a significant milestone and a step in the right direction toward obtaining certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Designed for a single pilot, Zero is compact enough to fit in a standard parking space and can land in an area of 9 meters by 9 meters. The final production version is expected to carry around 100 kg, operate quietly, and be equipped with a battery that allows for a flight range of 80 km after each charge. This vehicle can fly at a speed of 257 km/h.
Zeva Aero plans to continue conducting stationary hover tests, followed by horizontal flight, and eventually manned flight tests. The company will begin accepting pre-orders with a deposit of $5,000 this spring. Meanwhile, the first Zero aircraft produced are estimated to cost around $250,000.
