© Photo by Forbes / AeroMobil via
Forbes
Vocabulary:
- prototype /PROH-tuh-tahyp/
[noun] the first example of something, such as a machine or other industrial product, from which all later forms are developed
A million-dollar prototype of spacecraft will deploy an Orbiter camera.
- back and forth /bak-uh n-FOHRTH/
[adjective] moving first in one direction and then in the opposite one
The baby crib rocks back and forth alone every midnight.
- trial /TRAHY-uhl/
[noun] a test, usually over a limited period of time, to discover how effective or suitable something or someone is
A group of doctors conducted clinical trials to prove how helpful the new heart treatment is.
- corresponding /kawr-uh-SPON-ding/
[adjective] similar or the same in some way
His company profit has a corresponding loss from last year’s financial issue.
- fleet /fleet/
[noun] a number of buses, aircraft, etc. under the control of one person or organization
They have a lot of customers because they are able to keep a fleet of well-maintained delivery trucks.
Are you ready to take a ride with a flying taxi? Here is what will make you more excited, the startup fare of the flying taxi is the same as a normal taxi.
A German-based company introduced its electric air taxi prototype which conducted its first flight last May 2019 in Munich. The battery-powered jet can travel 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour and will connect cities back and forth on a landing pad. Passengers are able to book rides from their nearest landing pad using a smartphone app.
Dallas and Los Angeles were the two cities that had the flying vehicle trials. Lots of cities around the world became possible choices for the third city trial, but Uber’s top pick is Melbourne, Australia. The trial flight will be from Westfield Shopping Center to Melbourne’s international airport. Normally, the travel time takes 25 minutes by a normal cab but will only take 10 minutes by a flying taxi.
Daniel Wiegand, a CEO said, “Today we are taking another huge step towards making urban air mobility a reality. We dream of a world where anyone can fly wherever they want, whenever they want.”
The German company hopes that travelers will be able to book the flying vehicle through the Uber app with the corresponding UberX’s fare. Gigantic firms including Uber (UBER), Boeing (BA), and Rolls Royce (RYCEF) are working on flying vehicles. Moreover, Uber is working together with NASA to generate air traffic of the fleet of flying taxis for its major commercial service in 2025.
Comprehension Questions:
- In the article, how much is the flying taxi fare?
- When will the company start its full operation of flying taxi?
- Who stated that anyone can fly wherever and whenever people want?
- According to the article, where will be the departure and drop-off of the flying taxi in the third trial-city?
- What are the huge names in business that work together to make air mobility a reality?
Discussion Questions:
- What can you say about the company’s comparable fare to a normal cab?
- Which one do you prefer, a normal or a flying taxi cab? Please explain your answer.
- Do you think a flying vehicle wouldn’t have any disadvantages in our society? Please discuss your answer.
- What other inventions do you think will be invented in the future? Please explain.
- What are the disadvantages of technologies? Explain further.
[noun] the first example of something, such as a machine or other industrial product, from which all later forms are developed
A million-dollar prototype of spacecraft will deploy an Orbiter camera.
[adjective] moving first in one direction and then in the opposite one
The baby crib rocks back and forth alone every midnight.
[noun] a test, usually over a limited period of time, to discover how effective or suitable something or someone is
A group of doctors conducted clinical trials to prove how helpful the new heart treatment is.
[adjective] similar or the same in some way
His company profit has a corresponding loss from last year’s financial issue.
[noun] a number of buses, aircraft, etc. under the control of one person or organization
They have a lot of customers because they are able to keep a fleet of well-maintained delivery trucks.
A German-based company introduced its electric air taxi prototype which conducted its first flight last May 2019 in Munich. The battery-powered jet can travel 300 kilometers (186 miles) per hour and will connect cities back and forth on a landing pad. Passengers are able to book rides from their nearest landing pad using a smartphone app.
Dallas and Los Angeles were the two cities that had the flying vehicle trials. Lots of cities around the world became possible choices for the third city trial, but Uber’s top pick is Melbourne, Australia. The trial flight will be from Westfield Shopping Center to Melbourne’s international airport. Normally, the travel time takes 25 minutes by a normal cab but will only take 10 minutes by a flying taxi.
Daniel Wiegand, a CEO said, “Today we are taking another huge step towards making urban air mobility a reality. We dream of a world where anyone can fly wherever they want, whenever they want.”
The German company hopes that travelers will be able to book the flying vehicle through the Uber app with the corresponding UberX’s fare. Gigantic firms including Uber (UBER), Boeing (BA), and Rolls Royce (RYCEF) are working on flying vehicles. Moreover, Uber is working together with NASA to generate air traffic of the fleet of flying taxis for its major commercial service in 2025.