While Tesla's plans continue to generate widespread buzz online, discussing the future of air travel instead of traffic jams, an innovator in Almora, Uttarakhand, spent thirteen years realizing a similar concept, motivated by a more pressing local problem.
Ravi Tamta grew up in the mountains of the village of Kaflikhan, near Jageshwar Dham. There, he noticed that reaching the hospital could take hours due to winding roads. This prompted him to consider an alternative way to traverse the hills that would not depend on road infrastructure or airports.
This question led him to create a prototype electric flying device, HAPIDA SKYNeX, capable of vertical takeoff and landing. After many years of experimentation, the device made its first test flight in August, taking off from a military helipad in Almora and staying airborne for almost a minute.
The Mountain Problem Led to the Idea
For residents of mountainous regions, distance is often measured not in kilometers. Complex terrain and winding roads can turn a relatively short trip into a long journey, especially when medical assistance is required. Tamta began researching the possibility of using an aircraft to speed up the traversal of such distances. His goal was to create a vehicle that could take off vertically, move over difficult terrain, and land without the need for a runway.
The main objective is to increase the accessibility of air transport in mountainous regions, especially during medical emergencies or in hard-to-reach areas. HAPIDA SKYNeX, developed under his company Hapida Sky Private Limited, combines modified large-scale multirotor drone technology with an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) system. Simply put, it uses the same basic principle that allows a multirotor drone to take off and hover, but applies it to a prototype designed to carry a person.
Unlike traditional airplanes, which require a runway to gain sufficient speed, the eVTOL vehicle is designed for vertical takeoff and landing. This makes this technology particularly relevant for mountainous areas, where finding suitable space for runways can be difficult.
How the Flying Device Works
HAPIDA SKYNeX uses several electric motors and propellers mounted on external struts to generate lift. These components work together to lift the device from the ground, maintain hovering, and help control its movement in the air. This multirotor configuration is fundamentally similar to the technology used in drones, although scaling it up to carry a person presents additional engineering and safety challenges.
The prototype is also equipped with a lightweight frame, a cockpit designed for one pilot, and a transparent dome. Its electric drive system runs on batteries, eliminating exhaust emissions during operation. Nevertheless, its practical flight range, battery autonomy, and overall efficiency will depend on factors such as battery capacity, the weight of the device, and the power required to maintain flight.
The intended application is short trips across difficult terrain. According to project data, a journey of about 40 kilometers, which takes approximately 90 minutes by mountain road, could potentially be completed in the air in 10–15 minutes. This is a target travel time, not a demonstrated operational capability at this stage.
Thirteen Years of Learning Through Experimentation
Tamta did not have an engineering degree or access to a high-tech laboratory. Instead, he turned to the internet for learning, relying on the support of his parents and constant experimentation to develop his idea. Over a period of more than 13 years, the concept gradually took shape within his company, Hapida Skynex. The first flight was an important step in testing the feasibility of his vision beyond drawings.
The prototype is still in its early stages and requires further testing. While the test flight gives an idea of what the device can do in the future, it is too early to judge its performance in regular use. Before such a device can be used for regular passenger transport, it must demonstrate reliable flight control, sufficient battery performance, structural integrity, and safe reaction to component failures. Operation in mountainous terrain will require consideration of additional factors, including changing weather, wind conditions, available landing spots, and emergency procedures.
From Everyday Inventions to Flying Machines
The flying device is not Tamta's first attempt to solve practical problems through invention. His previous creations include shoes that charge mobile phones while moving, a smart cane for the visually impaired, a bamboo splitting machine, and fire extinguishing equipment. Each project started with a practical task that prompted him to find ways to simplify a specific job.
HAPIDA SKYNeX still has a long way to go before it can carry passengers or help people reach hospitals faster. Currently, its first flight marks a step forward for an idea shaped by life in the mountains. While discussions about flying cars continue online, Tamta's work offers a different perspective on this technology: not just as a futuristic mode of transport, but as a potential solution to everyday mobility problems.
