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In late October, Thomas Senkel of e-volo ^[4] completed the world’s first manned flight of an electric multicopter ^[5] on an airstrip in the southwest of Germany. The flight lasted one minute and 30 seconds. Of the flight, the constructor and test pilot said, “The flight characteristics are good-natured. Without any steering input it would just hover there on the spot.” The video after the jump shows how simple and nimble this aircraft ^[6] is, using a yoga ball as landing gear stabilized by spidery arms. That the e-volo multicopter’s flight resembles the takeoffs of alien spacecraft in sci-fi movies – it’s able to turn on a dime as it rises into the air.

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Although this multicopter is bare bones and looks as if it would easily be swept around by winds, just imagine this setup encased in a carbon fiber body shell and fitted out with stabilizing equipment. Could this be the green future of flight? All we know is that it looks like a ton of fun. Check out the flight (starting at 1:40 into the video) to see Senkel navigate using a remote control. You can learn more about the multicopter and e-volo’s plans to sell them to the public at the e-volo website ^[4].

+ e-volo ^[4]

Via CBS News ^[8]