SkyDrive's SD-05 flying car unveiled for future air taxi in japan

skydrive unveils its SD-05 flying car design

Leading developer and manufacturer of flying cars and cargo drones SkyDrive unveiled the design of its commercial model flying car — the SkyDrive SD-05. The company is planning to use this model, currently in development, to launch an air taxi service in the Osaka Bay area during the world exposition scheduled for Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. ‘This is another big step towards the realization of flying cars and sky roads,’ commented Takumi Yamamoto, SkyDrive design director. ‘Two years have passed since the announcement of the SD-03, which successfully completed its public manned flight test in August 2020, and we are very happy to be able to announce its successor, the SD-05.’

The SD-05 is envisioned as a two-seat, electric-powered compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Operated by a driver pilot, its flight stability is secured with a computer-controlled flight system. It can also travel up to approx. 10 km with a maximum cruise speed of 100 km/h. However, design and specifications are subject to change as the model development progresses.

exterior of the SD-05, currently in development | all images courtesy of SkyDrive

exploring possible applications for safer + faster air travel

‘This vehicle is not just a simple means of traveling from point A to B,’ Yamamoto said. ‘Based on the design concept of ‘giving wings to daily travel,’ it’s also a safer and more enjoyable travel partner.’ That said, SkyDrive is acquiring a type-2 certificate for SD-05 from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the first of its kind in Japan. In addition, the company continues to work toward initiating the practical use of flying cars during the World Exposition Osaka, scheduled for 2025.

As for possible applications, three options are now being considered. The first is a transit option for when a shortcut is needed due to geographical conditions or existing public transportation is detoured. In the Osaka Bay area, where numerous tourist attractions are located, bodies of water sometimes prevent or hinder direct access by public transportation. Getting from one tourist venue to another can be difficult and time-consuming, sometimes taking as long as 40 minutes to travel just one kilometer as the swallow flies. The SD-05 can alternatively make the trip in just five minutes.

the company is set to begin air taxi services at World Expo 2025 in Osaka

The second option is to provide unique access to resort facilities. Traveling to and from a resort destination — especially in a remote or unusual location — can offer an extraordinary experience for passengers, with sweeping views to enjoy while flying. The final application relates to emergency medical services. As the SD-05 is more compact, lighter, and quieter than helicopters, it can more easily take off and land in small spaces like rooftops — a critically efficient feature for medical workers who must travel quickly to provide needed assistance.

SkyDrive is also moving to promote its business outside Japan. In the U.S., for example, the company has set up an office in September 2022 to provide a means of ‘last mile’ air transportation. It has been developing the market jointly with local authorities and partner companies.

aerodynamically advanced frame design

boasting an S-shaped, aerodynamic frame

Viewing the fuselage, or body, of the aircraft from the side, an S-shaped contour suggests a pair of propellers lifting off into the sky. Looking down on the craft from above, one can catch the shape of a pearl-white swallow, a small but agile bird able to soar to great heights. The aerodynamically advanced airframe design is informed by studies of the streamlined shapes of birds and animals and features both horizontal and vertical tails for added stability in flight. At the top corners of the airframe, 12 motor-propeller units are positioned for flight stability. These reflect flight control technology acquired through more than 1,000 flight tests conducted during airframe development.

For the SD-05, specialists from SkyDrive and its partners have worked in collaboration with JAMCO Corporation, an aircraft interior maker; Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., a provider of advanced Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Plastics (CFRP); and Electric Power Systems Inc., a leading developer of battery systems that include high-power powertrains for electrified aircraft that are eligible for type certification.