Skip to main content

Personal flying machine looks like a vertical flying saucer

A lot of personal flying machines are in the works right now, but this one from Washington-based startup Zeva Aero surely features one of the most extraordinary designs yet.

The Zeva Zero aircraft comprises a large black disc with eight rotors attached and resembles a “vertical flying saucer,” Reuters reported this week.

Related Videos

A video (below) shows the electric-powered Zeva Zero acing its first untethered test flight earlier this year. Current test flights are crewless and remotely operated, but the team hopes to fly it with a human pilot soon.

While the vehicle adopts an upright position during takeoff and landing, the Zeva Zero is actually designed to lean forward when it picks up speed, a maneuver that’s sure to make it look even more like a flying saucer.

ZEVA First Flight 2022

The unique aircraft is designed to hit speeds of 160 mph and has a range of 50 miles. As it can take off and land vertically, no airstrip is required, making it ideal for trips to and from urban centers.

Founded in 2018, Zeva Aero was a finalist in Boeing’s 2020 GoFly contest that encourages engineers to design and build personal flying machines. The company also showcased the aircraft in a tethered flight at the Dubai Air Show last November.

A possible future design of the Zeva Zero flying machine.
A possible future design of the Zeva Zero flying machine. Zeva Aero

Stephen Tibbitts, co-founder and chief executive of Zeva Aero, said the company envisions its flying machine being used by first responders, giving them a quick way to reach the scene of an emergency.

The engineer and trained pilot said that if it can commercialize the vehicle, it would likely come with a price tag of around $250,000, putting it well out of reach of regular folks.

The aircraft will also need the nod from regulators who will want to be assured of the aircraft’s safety if it’s ever to fly freely in the skies.

Editors' Recommendations

9 longest-range plug-in hybrids: get the best of both worlds
2020 Polestar 1

All-electric cars are here and becoming increasingly available, but not everyone is ready to make the jump to an EV. After all, while EVs are cheaper to run and maintain, they also require you spend the time and effort to charge them — and on longer drives, that can be a bit of a pain. That’s exactly where plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) come in.

Plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds. They have an electric motor and a battery to allow you to drive without using any gas, and they have an engine and gas tank to allow you to drive using gas. The result? Often, you can get around town and to work and back without using any gasoline — only engaging the gas engine when you’re driving longer distances. That means that you don’t have to stop and charge when you don’t want to.

Read more
Best Buy’s deal of the day is $120 off a 25ft electric car charger
juicebox electric vehicle charger deal best buy february 2023 25ft

If you're looking for one of the best ways to charge your electric vehicle, Best Buy has a great deal for you today. Right now, you can buy the Juicebox 25ft Electric Vehicle Charger for $549, saving you $120 off the regular price of $669. Convenient for anyone who wants to be able to charge from home more efficiently, this level 2 electric vehicle charger is sure to be a hit with you. You'll need to be fast though as, predictably, this deal of the day ends today. Let's take a quick look at why it's worth it.

Why you should buy the Juicebox 25ft Electric Vehicle Charger
If you've been reading up on how to charge your electric car at home, you'll notice Juicebox gets a mention. Its Level 2 chargers are more powerful than Level 1 so you can refill your battery quicker. With the Juicebox 25ft Electric Vehicle Charger, you can expect up to six times faster charging than with the charger that came with your car. Universal compatibility means it works with all TVs on the market today and in the future, including Teslas thanks to a commonly used adapter.

Read more
Cruise’s robotaxis have driven 1 million miles fully driverless
A driverless Cruise car in San Francisco.

General Motors-backed Cruise revealed this week that its fully driverless cars have now traveled more than a million miles, mostly on the streets of San Francisco.

The achievement comes just 15 months after the company’s first fully driverless ride, during which time it also launched San Francisco’s first paid driverless robotaxi service.

Read more