The future doesn't always look like we imagined it in childhood, but some elements of sci-fi movies are becoming reality. In just a few years, flying taxis may appear in Bali, with a commercial launch planned for 2028.
Dirgantara Indonesia presented two flying taxi prototypes — Vela Alpha and Intercrus Sola — at the Indo Defense 2025 exhibition in Jakarta, developed in collaboration with Vela Prima Nusantara.
This is not the first attempt to introduce air transport on the island. Previously, there were reports of tests of the Chinese air taxi EHang 216, as well as a Vela prototype capable of vertical takeoff and landing. Some models were offered in electric and hybrid versions with a range of up to 100 and 500 km, respectively.
Vela Alpha, designed for 7 people (1 pilot and 6 passengers), will undergo flight tests in 2026, be certified in 2027, and enter mass production in 2028. It is an electric eVTOL with a range of up to 100 km, a maximum speed of 250 km/h, and a payload capacity of 550 kg. Besides passenger transport, it can be used as a cargo drone, for medevac, aerial tours, airport transfers, and disaster relief.
The second prototype, Intercrus Sola, is designed for four people. An unmanned military version is also being developed for delivering equipment, capable of launching from ships and remote locations. It has a payload capacity of 360 kg, a range of 100 km, and a cruising speed of 150 km/h.
However, challenges remain. The main one is noise: even small drones can't be called quiet. How safe these devices will be will be shown by tests and time. Hopefully, the air traffic over the island in 2030 won't become as chaotic as the current road traffic in Bali.
Sources: detik, reportaseindonesia
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