Flying taxis take flight in front of a US crowd for the first time as 2 companies race to take on passengers

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* Joby and Archer Aviation are creating electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles.

* The California companies made their first flight demos at a Monterey County airshow on Saturday.

* Both companies are aiming to fly their first passengers within the next few years.

It may have been the quietest attraction of the day.

On a clear Saturday afternoon, Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation, two California-based companies focused on making electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles, or eVTOLs — pronounced ee-vee-tols — demonstrated their aircraft in front of a public crowd for the first time at the California International Airshow in Monterey County.

The 10-minute demos came and went with nothing more than a pither. Only the sound of a slight hum and the crowd chatter could be heard during both flights.

https://tech.yahoo.com/transportation/articles/flying-taxis-flight-front-us-082102201.html