Having your own private helicopter is a costly affair, not just because you need to spend a fortune to buy one in the first place, but also because you need to keep paying small fortunes every year for maintenance and storage. However, thanks to personal electric airplanes such as the Joby S2 VTOL, you might soon be able to enjoy the thrills of personal air transportation without having to drain your bank account in the process.
The aircraft is able to take off and land vertically thanks to its 12 tilting electric propellers that fold into an aerodynamic form when the plane reaches cruising speed. The tail flaunts a V-like shape, while the wings are forward swept and include 4 propellers on each side. These propellers ensure silent takeoffs and landings, and should two of them suddenly fail, the plane could still remain in the air without any issues. Designed to reach speeds of up to 200 mph and go for 200 miles between charges, the Joby S2 VTOL is shaping up as a very intriguing alternative to helicopters, especially since it would cost just $200,000.
