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Here's a sneak peek at Larry Page-backed Kitty Hawk's single-seater aircraft

Here's a sneak peek at Larry Page-backed Kitty Hawk's single-seater aircraft
The Kitty Hawk Flyer  |  Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Kitty Hawk
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Enterprise drone solutions firm Kitty Hawk, founded and backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, has unveiled the latest iteration of its upcoming single-seater aircraft, the Kitty Hawk Flyer, which can currently only be used for recreational purposes, a report in Bloomberg stated.

Resembling a drone, the Flyer runs on a 10 battery-powered propeller and can be navigated using two control sticks, according to the news report. The aircraft will first run at 20 miles an hour and can climb to 10 feet into the air, the report added.

Kitty Hawk had released a prototype of the Flyer in April 2017, which had safety gear in the form of protective netting around the pilot seat and a pair of pontoons as landing gear, The New York Times had reported.

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However, the company has not shared any details about the cost or launch date of the aircraft.

Besides the Flyer, Kitty Hawk has developed another project called Cora, a two-seater electric air taxi that is intended as an alternate mode of transportation in congested cities, Bloomberg reported. Cora can land and take off vertically with the help of 13 rotors, the report added. According to the Kitty Hawk website, Cora is being is being testing in New Zealand, where the company is working with the government, businesses and local communities.

Kitty Hawk raised $5 million in a funding round led by Santa Monica-based seed fund Bonfire Ventures, along with participation from Boeing HorizonX Ventures and Freestyle Capital, a company statement said. Kluz Ventures' The Flying Object, a venture fund focused on the commercial drone industry, also came on board as a returning investor, the statement added.

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In a separate development, Bloomberg reported that Volocopter GmbH, a German startup backed by chipmaker Intel and automotive multinational Daimler AG, has developed an electric helicopter that will function as a taxi service to ferry commuters over congested cities. The startup is testing its aircraft in Dubai and Las Vegas and is seeking to raise $100 million to manufacture the air taxis. It plans to begin flight operations in the next three to five years, the report added.


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