Boeing is testing prototypes for passenger drone taxis, as flying cars and “urban air mobility” come closer to reality

A century ago, Glenn Curtiss unveiled the Autoplane, a flying car that could barely get off the ground. Now, a Bloomberg article reported that Boeing – the company that ultimately inherited the aircraft manufacturing division of Curtiss’ old company – is testing prototypes of the drone air taxi.

“Real prototype vehicles are being built right now. So the technology is very doable,” said CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who believes the era of flying urban vehicles is coming faster than most people expect.

Drone aerial taxis and cargo-hauling UAVs could be the next big thing for aerospace companies like Boeing. Muilenburg is devising what he believes could become the “rules of the road” for three-dimensional highways.