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Flying Cars For US Air Force! USAF Trains To Fly ‘Electric Cars’; First eVTOL Service To Begin By 2023

The US Air Force (USAF) is training to fly an electric ‘flying car,’ called the HEXA electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as part of the service’s ambitious Agility Prime program.

On November 16, the Lift HEXA eVTOL lifted off at Duke Field for its first flight piloted by the USAF Airmen, who remotely controlled the aircraft during multiple takeoffs, flights, and landings.

The USAF said in a statement that this was an early step in creating a training program to incorporate airmen into the aircraft’s flight operation.

The training’s objective was twofold. First, to validate the HEXA’s training program by having the airmen execute it in a controlled test environment, and second, to serve as a proof of concept for developing responsive training for government operators on uncrewed eVTOL aircraft.




The HEXA, an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, moves forward flown by Airmen on November 16 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Airmen in training piloted the aircraft via remote control for the first time at Eglin. (USAF)

Participants included personnel from the 413th Flight Test Squadron, AETC Det 62, and AFWERX Agility Prime.

Agility Prime is an ambitious USAF program that seeks a highly modular eVTOL for various purposes, such as logistics and evacuation. AFWERX is a Technology Directorate of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

“Successfully completing this training is a huge milestone and confidence boost to allow us to meet this challenge,” said Maj. Riley Livermore, 413th FLTS Futures Flight commander.




Maj. Victoria Snow, 413th Flight Test Squadron, operates the control, while Master Sgt. Tim Nissen, Air Education Training Command Detachment 62, monitors aircraft information readouts during their HEXA flight training on November 16 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (USAF)

During the two-week familiarization, the team began with classroom and simulator training before getting behind the controls of the HEXA aircraft.

The flight requires a two-person team. One person controls the movement of the aircraft, while the other monitors the aircraft systems, batteries, outside variables, etc.

The USAF aims to deploy its first eVTOL for ferrying passengers or freight by 2023, for which the service has dedicated $3.6 million to Agility Prime’s first procurement funds to lease ten eVTOL aircraft for exploratory use during fiscal 2023.

So far, the program has 66 potential uses, including infiltrating and exfiltrating special operations forces (SOF) and rescuing downed aviators or other personnel from behind enemy lines, which could be a dangerous mission for traditional choppers.

Agility Prime’s first real-world uses would probably involve supporting test and training ranges and other cargo transportation tasks. However, it could eventually play a role in wars.

HEXA Aircraft is among the first eVTOL aircraft that the USAF could acquire. Developed by Lift Aircraft, an eVTOL company based in Austin, Texas, HEXA is a single-seat multicopter weighing around 195 kilograms.




Maj. Victoria Snow, 413th Flight Test Squadron, connects a battery to the HEXA, an electric, vertical takeoff, and landing aircraft, before its first military-controlled flight on November 16 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (USAF)

It is propelled by 18 rotors, capable of flying up to around 24 kilometers, and carries a maximum of 136 kilograms.

HEXA can be used for search and rescue, hauling small loads around bases, and emergency response. It appeared in this year’s edition of the Emerald Warrior exercise at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

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