Airspeeder off at Goodwood
Australian UAM (sort of) startup Alauda Racing is currently in the UK demonstrating their manned multicopter at the Goodwood festival of speed. They are also unveiling a race series that may start next year.
“We’re delighted to have agreed on this partnership with Airspeeder who are using cutting-edge technology to deliver a new generation of motorsport. The spirit of ingenuity and engineering behind Airspeeder makes it the perfect fit for Equals, as these are also the drivers behind our new brand identity,” said Ian Strafford-Taylor, CEO of title sponsor, Equals.
Matt Pearson, founder, and CEO of Alauda Racing, and the driving force behind the Airspeeder race series said: “Flying cars are no longer a fantasy, they are a reality and Goodwood Festival of Speed is the perfect place to introduce Airspeeder to the world. We’ve taken design cues from the golden era of racing, and we’re sure the tens of thousands of enthusiasts present will instantly appreciate this evolution of motorsport. Totally absorbing, and all electric, it will appeal to a whole new generation of race fans.”
Yesterday the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) was sent to investigate an incident involving one of the craft, which landed off-piste in a forceful manner.
The Airspeeder was being flown unmanned in front of the media and quite simply climbed until it’s battery ran out.
It arrived in adjacent field.
Sounds like a classic case of vibration, Twitter is alive with folks suggesting that the team uses a single IMU as the brains, this surely couldn’t be right, could it?
I look forward to reading the AAIB report with interest.
