Daijiworld Media Network - Almora

Almora, Aug 8: Ravi Tamta, a resident of Kaflikhan village in Uttarakhand’s Almora district, has test-flown a single-seater electric flying vehicle prototype developed under his startup, Hapida Sky.

Named HAPIDA SKYNeX, the prototype is reportedly based on modified drone technology and has drawn attention after videos of its initial test flight surfaced on social media. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also shared a video of the test flight on X.

Tamta has said the project was inspired by the challenges of travelling through the mountainous region. According to local reports, a road journey of around 40 km between his village and home can take nearly 90 minutes. He believes a personal flying vehicle could potentially cover the same distance in around 10 to 15 minutes.

The test flight was conducted on open ground in Almora, with Tamta and his team carrying out the initial evaluation of the prototype. He has described the project as the outcome of several years of experimentation aimed at modifying existing drone technology to make it capable of carrying a person.

Tamta has also denied allegations that the flying vehicle was imported from China. He reportedly invited those questioning its origin to visit his manufacturing facility.

The HAPIDA SKYNeX has been described as a fully electric personal flying vehicle with a single-seat configuration. The prototype uses a compact multi-rotor arrangement inspired by drone technology.

However, detailed technical specifications, including battery capacity, flight duration, top speed, payload capacity and charging time, have not yet been publicly disclosed.

The current prototype is understood to focus on testing basic aspects such as lift, balance and controlled flight, with further development expected as the project progresses.