Sell the sizzle not the steak (but there’s no steak)

[Steamflyer]

The link in OP suggests 4 pax plus a pilot. And says 2-3000' operating altitude which seems high in NY area.

So at ~$800 per flight loaded, seems this might just pencil out on a cash flow basis, assuming the maintenance costs of the machine are substantially lower than a conventional helicopter. Recharging and minor maintenance will probably be in the Meadowlands or some unused apron at EWR. Not sure LGA is going to work with a tiny confined airport and a very high traffic load, not to mention the shortest distance from Manhattan.

Suspect the issue will be noise as usual with helicopters - it's the blades not the engines that one hears. Six smaller diameter rotors will have a higher frequency above a drone and below a traditional helicopter. We'll see if their buzz if acceptable.

 

[Bell206]

Suspect the issue will be noise as usual with helicopters - it's the blades not the engines that one hears. Six smaller diameter rotors will have a higher frequency above a drone and below a traditional helicopter. We'll see if their buzz if acceptable.

Given noise was the primary reason helicopters could not provide the requirements for a full scale UAM system, it was also the primary design requirement for eVTOLs. For example, the current noise signature of the Joby in flight is around 65 dB which is lower than the ambient city noise levels in NYC.

NASA developed a method to measure these noise signatures during the prototype phases so the design could be optimized to provide the lowest signature possible. And having been around helicopters for quite some time, when I saw and heard the Joby fly, it was at a significantly low noise level which I didn’t think was possible.

 

[Steamflyer]

Given noise was the primary reason helicopters could not provide the requirements for a full scale UAM system, it was also the primary design requirement for eVTOLs. For example, the current noise signature of the Joby in flight is around 65 dB which is lower than the ambient city noise levels in NYC.

NASA developed a method to measure these noise signatures during the prototype phases so the design could be optimized to provide the lowest signature possible. And having been around helicopters for quite some time, when I saw and heard the Joby fly, it was at a significantly low noise level which I didn’t think was possible.

That's good to hear, given the general position and ops limits on helicopters in places like NYC.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

A Messerschmidt Me321 cargo glider designed for the planned invasion of England. Could carry 200 troops, a PzkwIV, or a field gun tractor and crew.
View attachment 140152
Heinkel designed the He111Z to tow it. They ended up being used to resupply Rommel in Africa.
View attachment 140153

Ah, cool! Probably not a whole lot of five-engined aircraft have ever been made. (And no, I'm not counting a 747 hauling an extra engine... Gotta have 5 throttles!)