Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk
A proposed flying car for confined-space rescue and extraction.
The X-Hawk is a flying car concept from Israeli designer Rafi Yoeli, developed by Metro Skyways Ltd., a subsidiary of Yoeli’s private firm Urban Aeronautics. The company reports that the vehicle has been tested at a hover height of 3 feet, with the potential to go higher. Both the X-Hawk and its smaller unmanned counterpart, the Tactical Robotics Cormorant, are intended for search and rescue missions where helicopters would be impractical or risky—such as pulling people from the upper floors of burning buildings or deploying police and soldiers in tight spaces like narrow streets and confined areas. The vehicle is expected to be about the size of a large van.
Urban Aeronautics holds the patent for the design under the name Fancraft. By 2013, the company had registered 37 patents, with 12 more pending. Metro Skyways Ltd. leads development of the X-Hawk and holds exclusive licenses for its use in civil air-taxi, air-rescue, and medical evacuation markets. A separate subsidiary, Tactical Robotics Ltd., focuses on the Cormorant (formerly AirMule) and holds exclusive licenses for unmanned military and national security applications.
In 2004, a proof-of-concept vehicle called CityHawk completed over 10 hours of hover testing near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, which spurred development of the X-Hawk and the Mule (later renamed Cormorant). Shortly after, Urban Aeronautics published the X-Hawk LE concept. Work on the X-Hawk runs parallel to the primary effort on the Cormorant. The company plans to begin testing the CityHawk eVTOL in 2021.
The X-Hawk is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with no exposed rotors, using a tandem-fan, turbine-powered design. A fly-by-wire multi-channel flight control system with automatic stabilization helps pilots maintain level flight. Its ducted fans are meant to give it the speed and maneuverability of a helicopter.
The CityHawk prototype carries two people, stays aloft for nearly an hour, has a maximum ceiling of about 8,000 feet, and flies at 80 to 90 knots. It measures 2.2 by 4.7 meters. The X-Hawk LE is a more powerful law enforcement version, seating one pilot and three officers, with a flight time of over three hours plus reserve at 140 knots. The X-Hawk EMS is designed for emergency medical services.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Metro Skyways Ltd.
- Designer
- Rafi Yoeli
- First Flight
- None
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Urban Aeronautics Ltd. patented its design as Fancraft, and by 2013 Fancraft technologies had registered 37 patents with 12 additional patents pending. Metro Skyways Ltd. (MSL), a subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics Ltd., led development of the X-Hawk and exercises exclusive license for manned air-taxi, air-rescue, and medical evacuation markets. Another subsidiary, Tactical Robotics Ltd. (TRL), took the lead in developing the Cormorant (formerly AirMule) and exercises exclusive licenses in unmanned military and national security markets.
In 2004, the proof-of-concept vehicle CityHawk completed more than 10 hours of hover testing near Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, encouraging development of the X-Hawk and the Mule (later renamed Cormorant). Shortly after, the X-Hawk LE concept was published by Urban Aeronautics. Development is being done in parallel to the primary effort put into the Tactical Robotics Cormorant. Urban Aeronautics plans to begin testing its CityHawk eVTOL in 2021.
The X-Hawk is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with no exposed rotors, configured as a tandem-fan, turbine-powered vehicle. Pilots use a fly-by-wire multi-channel flight control system with automatic stabilization to help control the aircraft and maintain level flight. The ducted fan design allows the car to achieve the speed and maneuverability of a helicopter.
Reader's Guide
The X-Hawk represents a niche approach to VTOL flight, emphasizing safety in confined urban environments by eliminating exposed rotors. Its ducted fan design and fly-by-wire system aim to provide helicopter-like maneuverability without the rotor strike risk that limits conventional helicopters near buildings and narrow streets. The parallel development of the unmanned Cormorant variant for military and national security roles, alongside the manned X-Hawk for civil rescue and medical evacuation, reflects a dual-market strategy. Urban Aeronautics has engaged with the militaries of the United States (Army), Italy, India, and other nations for possible sale of the Cormorant, and has partnered with Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Textron Inc. Bell Helicopter. The CityHawk prototype, with a capacity of two people, flight endurance of close to one hour, and a maximum ceiling estimated at 8000 ft, demonstrates the platform's potential for short-range urban missions. The X-Hawk LE variant, designed for law enforcement, carries one pilot and three officers with over three hours endurance at 140 kn. The X-Hawk EMS variant targets emergency medical services. While the firm has only demonstrated flight to a height of 3 ft, the concept has attracted interest from multiple nations and major aerospace partners, positioning it as a candidate for future urban air mobility and tactical rescue operations.
Did You Know?
- The X-Hawk is designed by Rafi Yoeli in Yavne, Israel.
- The firm claims to have flown the car to a height of 3 ft.
- The X-Hawk has no exposed rotors, using a tandem-fan, turbine-powered configuration.
- The CityHawk prototype is 2.2 x 4.7 m in size and can carry two people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Urban Aeronautics X-Hawk?
The X-Hawk is a proposed flying-car concept designed for rescue and tactical extraction in tight urban environments. It is developed by Metro Skyways Ltd., a subsidiary of Rafi Yoeli's company Urban Aeronautics, based in Yavne, Israel.
Who is behind the X-Hawk and where does the project come from?
Israeli designer Rafi Yoeli created the vehicle under his private firm Urban Aeronautics Ltd., with the actual build handled by its subsidiary Metro Skyways Ltd. The team is headquartered in Yavne, Israel, and has registered 37 patents (under the Fancraft technologie name) with another 12 still pending.
What missions is the X-Hawk intended to perform?
It is envisioned as a confined-space rescue platform—pulling civilians from upper floors of burning buildings or inserting police and military personnel into narrow streets where a helicopter simply cannot operate safely. The vehicle is projected to be roughly the size of a large van.
How far has the X-Hawk actually flown in testing?
The company reports a successful hover test at a height of about three feet off the ground, with the stated goal of reaching greater altitudes in future trials. As of the available information, it remains a concept vehicle rather than a fully operational aircraft.
How does the X-Hawk relate to the Tactical Robotics Cormorant?
The Cormorant is a smaller, unmanned counterpart to the X-Hawk, sharing the same confined-space rescue and deployment mission profile. Both vehicles were conceived to fill the gap left by helicopters in scenarios where the environment is too tight or too dangerous for rotary-wing aircraft.
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