The Austrian company CycloTech has completed the first tests of a prototype personal aircraft, Blackbird, with vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The 4.9-meter-long aircraft is equipped with six cyclorotor-type rotors and can reach speeds up to 120 km/h. The prototype weighs 340 kg and features six rotors: one at each corner and two under the fuselage. This is the world's first electrically powered vehicle to lift off using cyclorotors — special rotors with blades that change their angle of inclination.
CycloTech has been developing cyclorotors for 15 years. The inspiration came from Ernest Schneider's idea, who created a similar propulsion system for river vessels. Cyclorotors allow thrust to be directed at any angle, providing high maneuverability of the vehicle.
Blackbird is a prototype developed over 11 months. In the future, the company plans to release a two-seater aircraft called CruiseUp for private flights with speeds up to 150 km/h and a range of 100 km. The company aims to launch the production version by 2035.