A “flying car” is seen during a demonstration flight at the venue of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, in the city of Osaka’s Konohana Ward, April 14, 2025. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)
OSAKA — Demonstration flights of “flying cars,” touted as one of the highlights of the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, will resume shortly following their suspension due to a mechanical issue, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced July 8.
The demonstration flights had been suspended since April 26, when a vehicle operated by Marubeni Corp. was damaged midair. At the time, a protective cover detached as the craft was approaching landing.
According to Marubeni, the strength of a connecting component between the motor and the battery was weaker than design specifications, leading to the motor’s displacement and the subsequent fall of the cover.
The company has since replaced the part with one matching required specifications, and Japan’s transport ministry has approved the resumption of flights after evaluating the vehicle’s safety.
The association explained that demonstration flights will resume with the “Hexa” aircraft manufactured by U.S.-based Lift Aircraft Inc. If no safety issues are identified in test flights, demonstration flights will continue in the designated takeoff and landing area within the venue until July 21.
Meanwhile, Marubeni’s planned demonstration flights using a vehicle from U.K.-based Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. between the Expo site in Osaka’s Konohana Ward and the Hyogo Prefecture city of Amagasaki have been canceled.
(Japanese original by Hideto Okazaki, Osaka City News Department)
AloJapan.com