Lilium & Tavistock Vertiport Network Is In Our Commuter Landscape’s Future

Lilium and Tavistock have together created a breakthrough vertiport architecture for its hub location that is both functional and aesthetically unique and resembles the iconic art within Lake Nona. Image Credit: Lilium (2020)

Lilium & Tavistock Vertiport Network Is In Our Commuter Landscape’s Future

The Lilium & Tavistock Vertiport network forms part of Lilium’s vision of bringing regional air mobility to locations across the globe.

In a joint announcement presentation put on by Lilium, Tavistock Development and the City of Orlando, the first hub location for a high-speed electric air mobility network in America will be launched by 2025 in Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida. Lilium, the Munich-based aviation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet aircraft, Tavistock Development Company, and the City of Orlando on November 10, 2020 announced the country’s first urban and regional air mobility network as well as Lilium’s first US network location.

The transportation backbone will feature the designer refined Lilium Jet aircraft, design staff headed by Art Center College trained designer Frank Stephenson (Mini, BMW X5, Fiat 500, Maserati, Ferrari, McLaren), which can travel to comfortable distances of up to 186 miles (300km) within one hour on a single charge. This capability enables the short-hop transportation connection, arranged via a phone application, of entire regions in short commuter timeframes, from decision to fly to arrival at destination, while creating significant economic impact for cities and their residents as well as increased access to industry, culture, and nature.

Press Conference Presenters:
Rasesh Thakkar – Senior Managing Director, Lake Nona/Tavistock Group
Daniel Weigand – Co-Founder & CEO, Lilium
Brian Phillipson – Chief Technology Officer, Lilium
Yves Yemsi – Chief Program Officer, Lilium
Remo Gerber, PhD – Chief Operating Officer, Lilium
Buddy Dyer – Mayor, City of Orlando
Jeff Brandes – Senator District 24, Florida Senate
Ben Weaver – Managing Director, Tavistock Group
Meredith Bell – V.P. Communications & Marketing, Lilium

Florida’s Vertiport Aerotropolis Range Concept

Orlando’s aerotropolis is highlighted by the international airport and robust aviation companies and services, including several within Lake Nona, which is home to BBA Aviation/Signature Flight Support and SimCom Aviation Training who recently announced the creation of its new global headquarters that will train approximately 10,000 pilots each year.

Commenting on the ground-breaking partnership, Dr. Remo Gerber, Chief Operating Officer, Lilium said: “We are thrilled to partner with Tavistock and build the first stretch of Florida’s high-speed electric transportation network with Central Florida at its core. It shows that regional high-speed air mobility can be built by private initiative and give communities such as Lake Nona, which can also serve Orlando and arrivals from its international airport, the ability to determine themselves whether they want a link into a high-speed transportation network.”

Questions (2) posed by EVHNews Managing Editor, Edmund Jenks

City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer commented: “For this new technology to truly reshape the transportation ecosystem and benefit Orlando residents long-term, it is going to take a true partnership between cities, developers and transportation operators. We have been focused on finding the right partners to be a global leader in the advanced air mobility space. I’m thrilled that our progressive and collaborative environment has created an opportunity for this unique partnership between the City of Orlando, Lilium and Lake Nona to invest in the expansion of safe, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation options throughout one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.”

Discussing the partnership, Tavistock Managing Director Ben Weaver said: “We are delighted to partner with Lilium to create the first US network of vertiports and to launch within Lake Nona’s living lab allowing unrivaled connectivity unlike anything developed in the country to date. This partnership and network launch highlight our community’s passion and commitment to groundbreaking partnerships and new technologies that sets us apart as a city of the future. Lilium’s core mission of transport which not only supports bringing the region together, but also provides a solution to environmental issues, is incredibly impressive.”
[ht: sUAS News]

… notes from The EDJE