SpaceX Boss Elon Musk Wants To Build An Electric Plane That Takes Off Vertically

Tesla and SpaceX Elon Musk is considering the development of an electric aircraft that has the ability to take off vertically.

Not only would an all-eclectic airline slash fuel costs, the vertical take-off would cut the need for runways taking up valuable green space.

Musk is already working on a variety of ambitious projects including the HyperLoop high-speed transit system which uses pods in vacuum seal tubes.

During a Q&A session at the Hyperloop Pod competition awards ceremony at the weekend, the Tony Stark-like entrepreneur said:

“I have been thinking about the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) electric jet a bit more. I think I have something that might close. I’m quite tempted to do something about it.”

Neither the idea of electric aircraft or a plane that can take off vertically are totally new, but putting the two concepts together is.

Musk’s SpaceX rockets already fly supplies to the International Space Station, and the private space firm has also won a NASA contract to build a manned spacecraft to shuttle crew members to the ISS in future.

Image credit: EYEPRESS/SIPA/REX Shutterstock

Via: Engadget