At the beginning of February 2021, a company called Lift Aircraft unveiled a helicopter-car called HEXA.  While it seems HEXA is being targeted to the silly-vilian market it turns out that the taxpayer funded U.S. Air Force (USAF) is directly involved with its development.

Official HEXA promotional video:

In March 2021, the USAF began its phase of developmental testing.  It’s part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant programs.  Much of the taxpayer funding actually comes from other federal government organizations (called Participating Agencies), like the Department of Defense.  In the case of HEXA, funding is coming from an AFWERX ‘fellowship’.

AFWERX apparently is not an acronym, just a high-falutin’ techno sounding name.  The ‘fellowship’ is connected to USAF Special Operations Command.  The main goal of AFWERX is to create more “lethality at a lower cost”.

Installing a battery-pack into the one of the 18 motors, 17MAR2021.

Box of battery packs.

On 23MAR2021, a USAF HC-130J transported the electric helicopter-car from Springfield-Buckley Airport, in Ohio, to an airport in Texas.

On 24MAR2021, the HEXA was off-loaded on Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Texas.  It’s officially called an eVTOL (electric Vertical Take Off Landing).

USAF time lapse music video by Senior Airman Jacob Stephens:

According to the information that came with this photo, the USAF is testing the HEXA for possible use in the Search and Rescue (SaR) role, which is interesting because the HEXA can only carry one person.  Other military capabilities are also being tested, again, interesting because HEXA weight capacity is limited to the operator.

Silent video by Michael Madero, 01APR2021, testing being done on  Springfield-Buckley Airport:

Lift Aircraft claims the carbon fiber electric personal helicopter does not require a pilot’s license, and even has a ‘no hands’ flying mode.

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