US aerospace group Boeing announced on Wednesday, January 23, that its prototype autonomous urban air mobility vehicle had successfully made its maiden flight at Manassas, in the US state of Virginia, the previous day. Boeing calls the aircraft a passenger air vehicle (PAV). The maiden flight involved a controlled takeoff, hover and landing. It tested the PAV’s ground control systems and autonomous functions.

Subsequent flight tests will see the aircraft carry out wing-borne forward flights and test the transition between vertical flight and forward flight. Transition is usually the major engineering concern for high-speed vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

“In one year, we have progressed from a conceptual design to a flying prototype,” highlighted Boeing chief technology officer Greg Hyslop. “Boeing’s expertise and innovation have been critical in developing aviation as the world’s safest and most efficient form of transportation, and we will continue to lead with a safe, innovative and responsible approach to new mobility solutions.”

The PAV programme is the responsibility for Boeing NeXt, one of the corporation’s research and development divisions, which was launched last year. The PAV was actually designed and developed by Aurora Flight Sciences, which is a Boeing subsidiary.

The PAV is electrically powered, with a range of nearly 81 km (50 miles). It has a length of 9.14 m and a width of 8.53 m and its advanced airframe achieves efficient hover and forward flight by means of integrated propulsion and wing systems. It is designed to be fully autonomous throughout the entire flight profile.

“This is what a revolution looks like, and it’s because of autonomy,” affirmed Aurora Flight Sciences president and CEO John Langford. “Certifiable autonomy is going to make quiet, clean and safe urban air mobility possible.”

“Boeing was there when the aviation industry was born and, in our second century, we will unlock the potential of the urban air mobility market,” stated Boeing NeXT VP and GM Steve Nordlund. “From building air vehicles to airspace integration, we will usher in a future of safe, low-stress mobility in cities and regions around the world.”

Boeing NeXt is working with partners in industry and regulatory agencies to ensure that a new “mobility ecosystem” is introduced responsibly and to make certain that, in the future, piloted and autonomous aircraft will be able to coexist safely. The successful maiden flight of the PAV marks a milestone for the division, which is working on other, related, programmes.

Thus, last year saw the first indoor flight of the Cargo Air Vehicle (CAV). This is designed to carry up to nearly 227 kg (500 lb) of freight. The CAV is an unmanned electrically powered aircraft and is expected to start outdoor flight testing this year. Boeing NeXT also has other urban, regional and global ‘mobility platform’ projects.

Boeing is active in the production of commercial aircraft and defence, security and space systems, and is the world’s largest aerospace company. It supports commercial and defence customers in more than 150 countries and is one of the US’s leading exporters. Its products include commercial airliners and freighters (the 737, 747, 767, 777, and 787 families), military aircraft (combat aircraft, transports, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft), helicopters, defence and electronic systems, satellites, space launch systems, and weapons. It also provides advanced information and communication systems and logistics and training services.