Tokyo traffic is legendary. So when someone says they are working on a solution that literally flies over it, you pay attention.
On February 24, 2026, SkyDrive successfully carried out its first demonstration flight in Tokyo with its multi-rotor aircraft, the SKYDRIVE SD-05. The flight took place at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake, lifting off from what was essentially a temporary outdoor parking lot. If that does not scream “future,” nothing does.
The SD-05 flew for about 3 minutes and 30 seconds, covering 150 meters at an altitude of 13 meters. There was no pilot onboard. The aircraft operated using autonomous control and remote piloting, showing off the kind of precision maneuvering that makes this multi-rotor design interesting for dense cities.
Unlike fixed-wing flying car concepts, the SD-05 is compact and highly agile. That compact size means it can use smaller vertiports. Many rooftop emergency helicopter pads in Tokyo measure around 15 to 20 square meters (~161.46 to 215.28 square feet), and SkyDrive believes its aircraft could operate on most of them. That opens the door to rooftop ports, shopping mall parking decks, and even station plazas becoming part of a future air mobility network.
The demo is part of Tokyo’s broader roadmap to bring flying cars into real-world use, cutting congestion and improving urban mobility. Previous studies showed flight time could drop to less than a third compared to ground travel, though pre-boarding procedures still need refinement. SkyDrive is now testing passenger flow, including facial recognition check-in and security processes, with support from Skyports in the UK.
Public demo flights run from February 24 to 28, twice daily at 9:30 and 12:05. Watching is free.
Ticket price for your daily commute in the sky remains to be announced. Meanwhile, you can keep abreast with SkyDrive’s latest developments over at Skydrive.co.jp [JP].
Images: SkyDrive [JP].