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Take the fast track and read the Top 10 FAQs from Ken Karklin, Pivotal CEO
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What is an eVTOL aircraft?
The term eVTOL stands for electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing and represents a new and growing class of aircraft that requires no runway and operates in two distinct flight modes — hover and cruise. eVTOLs range in size from single passenger aircraft like the Pivotal Helix to multi-passenger air taxis. And because eVTOLs are electric, they are more sustainable and quieter than traditional aircraft.
What use cases does Pivotal envision for the Helix aircraft?
Pivotal is introducing the Helix as a personal recreational aircraft aimed at making the experience of flight available to a wider audience.
Today, flying the Helix over beautiful landscapes and exploring rate views provide unrivaled adventure. Over time, Pivotal's light eVTOL technology platform will evolve and go beyond recreational aircraft to serve a broad range of public service and defense applications.
What makes the Helix aircraft unique?
The Helix has a number of features that make it unique among the light eVTOLs. The most prominent is that it’s a tilt aircraft that rotates on its base to take off in hover mode, then tilts to horizontal for cruise mode, and tilts back again into hover mode for landing.
The simplicity of the tilt aircraft design leads to major advantages in safety, manufacturing, and cost.
In addition, Helix pilot fly in an enclosed flight deck, protected from the elements by a canopy.
This is just the beginning of what makes the Helix special. Read moreabout the Helix design, technology, and benefits here.
Is the Helix aircraft an air taxi or a flying car?
As a single-seat light eVTOL, the Helix is designed to serve as a personal recreation aircraft, not a commercial air taxi. And while eVTOLs are occasionally referred to as flying cars, the term is used metaphorically, not in a literal sense that they drive on roads, then take off into the sky.
Plenty of movies and cartoons dreamed up the flying car of the future, but today's eVTOLs are not designed to match the sci-fi renderings from decades past.
Where can I see the Helix eVTOL in person?
We announce upcoming air shows and events featuring the Helix through our social media, periodic newsletter, and at the top of the Pivotal homepage. The easiest way to stay up to date is to follow us, and join our newsletter list.
Can I test fly the Helix?
Because Helix requires successful completion of Pivotal flight training to be eligible to fly, we don’t offer test flights. That said, you can check out the Helix in our flight simulator at select events where we offer flight sim demos. Check our website and newsletters for upcoming events.
Is the footage on your YouTube channel real Pivotal aircraft or is it CGI?
If it looks real, it is. We have a handful of defense and public safety videos that are intentionally obvious computer generated animations as they are intended to communicate a concept of operations. Many of our Defense videos are conceptual in nature and obviously animations. As to where we're using the aircraft we deliver today, well, our defense customers do not permit us to perform filming in these situations whether training or real world.


