Airspeeder and HOK to develop first modular race vertiport
October 2, 2024
The world’s first “crewed flying car racing series,” Airspeeder, is to collaborate with architecture firm HOK to develop a modular race vertiport. “Elite pilots will use the sky as their playground in intense head-to-head competition,” explained Airspeeder, which will facilitate audience engagement though both in-person and virtual spectating solutions.
Design of the vertiport and event space will be undertaken by HOK’s London-based Sports and Entertainment team, with modularity, sustainability and fan experience core features of the concept. “It is incredibly exciting to design a brand new sports typology,” explained John Rhodes, director of sports and entertainment at HDK. “Airspeeder challenged us to draw on our decades of expertise designing for F1 and other sporting events while also imagining a physical environment for the future”.
The multi-functional ‘Skydeck’ hub – described by Airspeeder as “at the heart of the concept” – will sit directly beneath the airborne racetrack, giving fans an “unmatched experience of the race” with a 360 degree field of view (whether on-site or watching remotely).
An ‘airside zone’ will also facilitate protected workspaces for participating teams, with retractable landing pads enabling Airspeeders to make mid-race pit stops (something estimated to average 55 seconds with two batteries swapped out). The modular design is initially set to accommodate up to 10 teams and 20 aircraft, although can be “scaled to meet the evolving needs of the sport, keeping pace with its rapid development,” explained Airspeeder.
Solar-powered infrastructure and virtual race tracks will also minimise the environmental impact of the upcoming sport, especially in desert environments where the first events will be held. “The modular vertiport is more than just infrastructure planning – it’s a statement about the potential of eVTOL racing and the future of urban mobility at scale,” Airspeeder concluded.
The first remotely-piloted drag race between two Airspeeder craft took place in 2021, with Alauda Aeronautics unveiling the first crewed version of the flying race car (the Airspeeder Mk 4) in February 2023. As the world’s fastest eVTOL aircraft, it possess a top speed of 225mph, with a hydrogen turbogenerator offering range of up to 118 miles.
The Airspeeder EXA Series – the world’s first race between three eVTOL craft – was held in December 2023 in South Australia, with over 100 spectators in attendance joined by an audience streaming content remotely.
