“Kitty Hawk” makes flying over water accessible

An new electric aircraft, designed to be flown over fresh water, has been introduced by Kitty Hawk Corp. Dubbed the Kitty Hawk Flyer, the aircraft has been tested and is legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas under the ultralight category of FAA regulations. Users won’t need a pilot’s license to operate the Flyer.

The Kitty Hawk design team, headed up by Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson, set out to “engineer a personal aircraft that’s easy to fly and accessible for all.” The team included simple controls and advanced electronic capabilities so people could learn to fly it safely in minutes—and park it comfortably in a garage.

The Flyer sits on two pontoons, takes off and lands vertically and is powered by eight rotors. The vehicle’s top speed is about 25 miles per hour. The design of the “wing” platform helps to keep the vehicle in the ultralight category.

The working prototype was revealed in April 2017. Specifications are not yet available. The company expects the official Flyer will be available by the end of the year.