NASA Puffin: Personal Tilt-Rotor Aircraft (VIDEO)

I know what I want for Christmas in about 5 or 10 years.

Ever wanted your own hover-capable, electric-powered VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft? Of course you have.

Luckily for you, NASA is working on just such a thing.

The new Puffin aircraft design has been unveiled, showing just how far personal, electrically propelled flight could change the ways we transport ourselves around this rock.

The Puffin is sort of like you own personal V-22 Osprey. It combines vertical-takeoff with landing capability, Marine squad not included.

Unlike an Osprey, however, the entire aircraft tilts forward, meaning the pilot flies it in a prone position. During takeoff and landing the tail actually splits into four legs that serve as landing gear. Flaps on the wings will also deploy to keep the aircraft stable as it lifts and descends.

Current range would only be about 50 miles due to battery limitations but that’s increasing just about every day.

A world where people get around in big cities via personal aircraft may not be as futuristic as we once thought.

Video below:

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