14 August 2018 || 3 min read
Workhorse unveiled their new “Work Ahead” brand identity in New York City amidst the display of their SureFly flying taxi.
Steve Burns, CEO of Workhorse, stated: “We are at a watershed moment as the worlds of alternative energy and transportation become further intertwined. As more brands enter the space, having a strong marketing platform that lets workers know that Workhorse is a brand they can get behind, because we get behind them, is more important than ever.”
Workhorse is one of the few flying taxi companies to have initiated the flying car certification process with the FAA in the United States.
“The SureFly is a two-place hybrid-electric VTOL multi-copter aircraft developed by Workhorse in Loveland, OH. It is designed to accommodate a pilot and passenger or a pilot and cargo, up to 550 pounds at a speed of about 70 miles per hour, for up to two hours, day or night. The aircraft utilizes a fly-by-wire flight control system designed to maintain the flight envelope of the aircraft.”
The SureFly has a ballistic parachute that works above 100 feet AGL in the event of major powerplant abnormalities – but also features eight rotors for redundancy; if one of them fails the aircraft can still operate normally.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepted Workhorse’s application for Type Certification in June of 2018. The SureFly is anticipated to have a $200,000 MSRP.
Why it’s important: Workhorse was the first company to apply for and be accepted to commencement of the FAA Type Certification process, which means that they lead the flying taxi industry in certification efforts in the United States. Their path forward will be closely monitored by other flying car and taxi companies looking to gain intuition into best practices for navigating an entirely new certification space with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Source
- Workhorse Group Inc
- MarketsInsider
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