Zeva Zero Octocopter Flight Test, Vertical Flying Commuter Vehicle Interested By The Pentagon

Octocopter produced by Zeva Zero makes Pentagon interested. (photo: zeva zero)

JAKARTA – Having a vehicle that is able to fly vertically and is practical to use so that it is free from traffic jams is the dream of many people.

That's the dream Stephen Tibbitts, co-founder and chief executive of Zeva Aero, a startup based in Tacoma, Washington wants to fulfill. Recently Tibbitts successfully tested its prototype vehicle capable of full-scale vertical takeoff.

"That's an octocopter," Tibbitts said, pointing to the four motorbikes above and four below the vehicle. "This is a mixed wing-body and generates lift when flying forward."

Just ONE WEEK LEFT of our equity crowdfunding campaign on https://t.co/5Z8otEDcqw! Your investment today will help fund the future of affordable personal air transportation tomorrow. #eVTOL #vtol #avgeek #aviation #aerospace #flyingcars #airtaxi #urbanairmobility pic.twitter.com/4bPafGnPiI

— ZEVA AERO (@zevaaero) January 26, 2022

Zeva Zero is battery powered so it is quite practical and environmentally friendly. The Octocopter will then carry out flight tests.

"The customers of these vehicles that we're seeing right now are first responders, medics who have to go down to the crash site to treat trauma victims as soon as possible," said Tibbitts, an engineer, and trained pilot.

“Pentagon has also expressed interest in this vehicle,” the businessman added. "And then we were approached by a number of wealthy people who wanted to fly from their lake house to the city, and also from their yacht."

Going forward Zeva Aero dreams of putting these sustainable aerial vehicles in every US resident's garage. The possible price tag of this vehicle is around US$250,000 (IDR 3.5 billion). The price is quite expensive to be a commuter vehicle for now. However, Gurbir Singh, chief technology officer of Zeva Aero, is optimistic that this is the dream vehicle of the future.

"As battery technology improves, these vehicles will get better and be able to do more as we move forward," he said.