AirsSpaceX’ MOBi-ONE aircraft. Credit: PRNewsfoto/Detroit Aircraft Corp.

Detroit Aircraft (DAC) subsidiary Airspace Experience Technologies (AirSpaceX) has revealed a sub-scale model of its autonomous, electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) MOBi-ONE aircraft.

The model has been developed from a clean sheet design while fabrication and assembly were completed within four weeks.

Designed and manufactured by DAC at Detroit City Airport in Michigan, US, the MOBi-ONE is capable of flying at speeds of up of 250mph.

“The MOBi development programme will be capital intensive, but air Mobility as a Service could generate billions for the economy.”

The aircraft features autonomous take-off capabilities similar to a helicopter and can be used to transfer passengers or cargo between urban centres, suburbs and airports within 60 miles.

Once the engineering packages complete, a full-scale version of the MOBi-ONE is expected to be built.

After undergoing US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 27 certification, the aircraft will be operated by AirSpaceX.

Since 2011, the company and its designing partner Camilo Pardo have been working to prototype and develop several VTOL concepts.

AirSpaceX chief commercial officer JP Yorro said: “Our goal is to deploy 2,500 aircraft at the nation’s 50 largest cities by 2026, targeting existing infrastructure at first.

“The MOBi development programme will be capital intensive, but air Mobility as a Service could generate billions for the economy.”

AirSpaceX further noted that last year, US drivers wasted a total of $300bn in fuel and productivity sitting in traffic jams, producing 38 billion pounds of carbon emissions.