The U.S. Air Force is searching for electronic vertical-takeoff-and-landing technologies (eVTOL) to add to their arsenal for the fiscal 2023 budget. One eVTOL the Air Force has in mind has people labeling it as a "flying car." This is the Hexa drone. Related read:It’s America’s Largest UAV: Meet the RQ-4 Global Hawk

What Is the Hexa Drone?

Many people are comparing them to flying cars, but you can be the judge of that. Developed by the LIFT Aircraft team, the Hexa drone is a one-passenger eVTOL aircraft capable of landing on both water and land. It weighs a small amount of just 432 lbs. with a payload of 250 lbs., making it an "ultralight" recreational aircraft that doesn't require a pilot's license. It can cruise up to 45 mph and reach a maximum speed of 63 mph. On the other hand, it can only fly for 15 minutes, plus what's left in its reserves. It's made from carbon fiber composite and has a big front windscreen and open sides, meaning there are no doors. The Hexa drone can land on the water, giving it amphibious capabilities, which is possible because of the four perimeter floats that add stability and buoyancy. The 5th float has an energy-absorbing foam to help with rough landing protection on land and water. The Hexa flying car is fully powered by battery packs that charge the 18 propellers and 18 electric motors used to fly the aircraft. One compelling thing about it is its safety features. By having Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), it only needs around six propellers to stay in the air, which makes it an excellent aircraft for combat situations. There are tons of cool features the drone is capable of. For example, the LIFT Hexa aircraft can be controlled by pilots but can also fly semi-autonomously. Additionally, if all the propellers go down, there is an autonomous ballistic parachute that it can deploy before it crashes.

Agility Prime Directive

The Hexa drone is a fantastic eVTOL, and the U.S. Air Force agrees. In April 2020, LIFT Aircraft was selected for the U.S. Air Force Agility Prime Initiative, an opportunity for the Air Force and eVTOL companies to collaborate on projects and land government contracts. LIFT Aircraft has been making strides ever since. In 2021, the Hexa drone was effectively transported using an HC-130J Combat King II, and they received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval in Austin, Texas. As of 2022, they advanced to Phase 3 of landing a U.S. Air Force contract. The Hexa drone will only get better from here because Agility Prime helps companies experiment, develop, and distribute eVTOL technology quickly.

How Much Does a Hexa Cost?

LIFT Aircraft plans to sell Hexas to the public. Currently, there are only five Hexas, which cost approximately $495,000. Given it's qualified as an "ultralight" aircraft, you don't need a pilot's license to fly it. In fact, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took the Hexa for a spin back in 2018. In the future, LIFT Aircraft plans to let the public rent a Hexa for a ride. More like this:Meet the Sig MCX Rattler: Latest Defense Weapon for U.S. Special Ops

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