Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Blessed by otters, Volocopter takes maiden public test flight over Marina Bay amidst gloomy skies

Source Website: https://www.asiaone.com/digital/blessed-otters-volocopter-takes-maiden-public-test-flight-over-marina-bay-amidst-gloomy
By Ilyas Sholihyn, ilyas@asiaone.com, AsiaOne, 22 October 2019


Volocopter managed to conduct a maiden test flight this afternoon (Oct 22) — if only for a brief moment before the rain started pouring again.
PHOTO: Volocopter managed to conduct a maiden test flight this afternoon (Oct 22) — if only for a brief moment before the rain started pouring again.
PHOTO: Volocopter
Picture posted by Ilyas Sholihyn, ilyas@asiaone.com, AsiaOne on 22 October 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_yGUvIwGUMUg-GLyo6dmswW_B0YN0ByDFpAQAKZ7ne1SUCkDML679MyZz3OiNSRcn4aUQOf7857B4xEeEv7rZUeQxjtVVa5TgvCFe5VAoxxqxXblBLKrvQP30GCbWSkfDzUmHtkKqfU/s1600/volocopter-singapur-public-flight-01.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/original_images/Oct2019/volocopter-singapur-public-flight-01.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/digital/blessed-otters-volocopter-takes-maiden-public-test-flight-over-marina-bay-amidst-gloomy


Despite the gloomy, forbidding skies glowering over Marina Bay like a bad omen, Volocopter managed to conduct a maiden test flight this afternoon (Oct 22) — if only for a brief moment before the rain started pouring again.

Earlier today, German air taxi pioneer Volocopter and UK-based urban air mobility infrastructure firm Skyports officially opened a prototype of the world’s first flying taxi airport, dubbed VoloPort.

The prototype airport is located on the Float @ Marina Bay and hosts a static Volocopter 2X vehicle for display.


German air taxi pioneer Volocopter and UK-based urban air mobility infrastructure firm Skyports officially opened a prototype of the world’s first flying taxi airport, dubbed VoloPort.
PHOTO: German air taxi pioneer Volocopter and UK-based urban air mobility infrastructure firm Skyports officially opened a prototype of the world’s first flying taxi airport, dubbed VoloPort.
PHOTO: Facebook / Volocopter
Picture posted by Ilyas Sholihyn, ilyas@asiaone.com, AsiaOne on 22 October 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS8N1cKL39Jibw-xgWk-F2aKlvfmbW2RPjEBaZ8JwiPEAGhAB76ZWUW6sNOCXQ2uNp1BLO85ADEO26ieYbhVmrAq7D8zkTYqdV4b4AdIUoBfu6XSpsViS52uPZgV7H4E9MtV5tL-xJQY/s1600/191022_voloport_volocopter.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/191022_voloport_volocopter.jpg
https://www.asiaone.com/digital/blessed-otters-volocopter-takes-maiden-public-test-flight-over-marina-bay-amidst-gloomy


As you can see from the tweets by Engadget Senior Editor Richard Lai, the heavy rain very much dampened the start of the event.

Tweet posted by Richard Lai@richardlai on 21 October 2019 at 8:12 PM from NS Square (The Float @ Marina Bay)




Fortunately, the rain ceased just in time for an opening ceremony before the test flight kicked off at around 12pm.





The actual vertiport located across the bay will be used for live flight trials for on-demand air taxi services before it actually launches for real — something that's estimated to take flight from 2022 onwards. With heavy rain threatening to start again, the egg-shaped electric vehicle took flight, hovering over the Singapore River cautiously for about two to three minutes before flying back to the landing site.







Lifeboats stood by at the river just in case anything went wrong during the public demonstration with reporters and VIPs in attendance.




Considering the bad weather, it's surprising that the demo took place in the end. Volocopter probably has the Singapore otters to thank for blessing the VoloPort with their presence on Sunday.





Precautionary measures
Speaking at VoloPort’s unveiling yesterday, the firm’s chief executive Florian Reuter told reporters that flight trials of the air taxis will be conducted with pilots aboard first before eventually trying for autonomous runs.

“The VoloPort is an important step towards establishing an entire air taxi solution in Singapore,” says Duncan Walker, Managing Director of Skyports.

“Skyports has identified a number of potential VoloPort locations and air taxi routes across the city-state.”

The maiden test flight today may have been successful, but you’ll probably have to wait out a couple of years before on-demand air taxi services become a reality here.


The maiden test flight today may have been successful, but you’ll probably have to wait out a couple of years before on-demand air taxi services become a reality here.
PHOTO: The maiden test flight today may have been successful, but you’ll probably have to wait out a couple of years before on-demand air taxi services become a reality here.
Picture posted by SharksDen on 03 August 2011 - Bran's Dream, from "A Game of Thrones" Chapter 17 
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCyddPgBB0205KNpKvOr8CWwaWoBi9MOEQ0U2VTPI6-Z3fYsjDGtxdE8JkPdkqn0kEMZdq7zdAma_Xkm2t8B_9O7GOWFWpQIZdUHIscmnWHifEmmyoKuiDg_VuH-22P4Jq6Y1FKquRpQ/s1600/d42xuo9-a5efd6c7-5cca-4a62-9297-046162fa607f.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/8a88e891-839f-4255-ab78-4336232ffb1f/d42xuo9-a5efd6c7-5cca-4a62-9297-046162fa607f.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzhhODhlODkxLTgzOWYtNDI1NS1hYjc4LTQzMzYyMzJmZmIxZlwvZDQyeHVvOS1hNWVmZDZjNy01Y2NhLTRhNjItOTI5Ny0wNDYxNjJmYTYwN2YuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.GV98iWAFCk5lGAO12DfRy6KrfEmw4W6rSr4WM_MCsNE
https://www.deviantart.com/sharksden/art/Bran-s-Dream-246803337
 

Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?
then you will find your joy in the Lord
then you will find your joy in the Lord
PHOTO: "then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 58:14).
Picture posted by Ben Britt - Wonderwoman
gif file generated by Animated Images Effects Generator at http://www.webestools.com/animated-images-effect-generator-effects-gif-images-picture-blog-gif-fx-images-animated-effect.html
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kw8z_tx8jGx-oWMBkWS5HpRDuSCORwHpi1SX-fcM8gdZj_T7CnVV_xE6W0QAAGJMjy0xRyqjPIIDeOCsI8qCruYpdp0NNBikta-lUfiKufd4ZslKHdDTc4yTllURL-Ev5CIAl6p5j-Q/s1600/4b3d0f368cbdb41d9f36e7461e8a4b5c.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1pWVphlZ43PkDt3mtNhhsyxcp-wOJZ8EEDkQfk1S9eIKN0zyHblq-ZTRheLvO_-SNRyXiFpBV5tNnEtZDHtzHnGXnU8gd-bNXDIjhx4DaT5tHeUczUMd2WfPgoSsXICCd5daxnkr_po/s1600/4b3d0f368cbdb41d9f36e7461e8a4b5c.gif
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/3d/0f/4b3d0f368cbdb41d9f36e7461e8a4b5c.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/573223858795850101/?lp=true

By Ilyas Sholihyn, ilyas@asiaone.com, AsiaOne, 22 October 2019



Reference
[1] Ilyas Sholihyn, ilyas@asiaone.com, AsiaOne, Blessed by otters, Volocopter takes maiden public test flight over Marina Bay amidst gloomy skies, posted on 22 October 2019, https://www.asiaone.com/digital/blessed-otters-volocopter-takes-maiden-public-test-flight-over-marina-bay-amidst-gloomy


New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,