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The Mainichi
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: What happened to the 'flying cars' at Expo 2025 in Osaka?
Flying cars are popular at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. But there was an accident on April 26 during a demonstration flight. Here are simple questions and answers about flying cars at the event. Q: What are flying cars? A: Flying cars are special vehicles that can fly. They usually carry between one and five people. Some look like drones, and some look like airplanes. These cars cost less money to make than airplanes. They are also quieter than helicopters. Many companies around the world and in Japan are working hard to make them. People think flying cars will be very useful in the future. Q: Can visitors at the Expo ride in flying cars? A: No. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura wanted visitors to ride in flying cars and pay money for it. But preparing everything safely was too difficult to do before the Expo started. Instead, Japanese companies SkyDrive Inc., Marubeni Corp. and ANA Holdings Inc. planned demonstration flights. The last two are working together with companies from other countries. Q: How do flying cars fly? A: The companies showed how these flying cars fly at Yumeshima island. Yumeshima is a man-made island in Osaka. On April 14, a flying car flew slowly about 10 meters above ground for about six minutes with one pilot. But on April 26, the flying car from Marubeni Corp. broke during its flight. It damaged one part of its body and one motor. Q: Will there still be flying car shows at the Expo? A: More flights were planned for Japan's Golden Week holidays in early May and on later weekends. But after the accident on April 26, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition decided to stop the flights for now. They will check safety again before they start the flights once more. The organizers of the Expo think safety is the most important thing. (Japanese original by Takumi Fujikawa, Osaka City News Department) Vocabulary Expo: A big event where many countries or companies show new ideas and technology. demonstration flights: Test flights to show people how something works. artificial island: An island made by people, not by nature. motor: A machine that gives power to move or fly. organizers: People or groups who plan and run an event.
The Mainichi
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
What's the status of the 'flying cars' at ongoing Osaka-Kansai Expo after incident?
The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the "flying cars" being demonstrated at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, after an incident during a test flight on April 26. Question: I've heard that "flying cars" are one of the major attractions at the ongoing Osaka Expo. What exactly are they? Answer: These flying vehicles typically carry about one to five passengers and are attracting attention as convenient means of future travel. They include rotary-wing types similar to drones, and fixed-wing types that resemble airplanes. Compared to planes, flying cars feature lower production costs, and they are less noisy than helicopters. Often referred to as an "air mobility revolution," companies both in Japan and abroad are competing to develop them. Q: Can visitors actually take a ride on one at the Expo? A: Originally, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura was eager about offering commercial flying-car rides with fares paid by passengers, connecting locations inside and outside the Expo venue. However, general visitors are not permitted onboard during the Expo. Completing the necessary regulatory and technical procedures by opening day proved too challenging. Instead, demonstration flights were planned by Japanese drone developer SkyDrive Inc., along with trading giant Marubeni Corp. and All Nippon Airways parent ANA Holdings Inc., both of which have partnered with overseas manufacturers. Q: How exactly do these cars fly? A: Demonstration flights were conducted at the Expo site on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka's Konohana Ward, where visitors could watch them in action. On April 14, the second day of the Expo, a flight took place with one pilot onboard, hovering slowly about 10 meters above ground for approximately six minutes. However, on April 26 the Marubeni aircraft, made by U.S.-based Lift Aircraft Inc., broke in mid-flight, suffering damage to its frame and one of its 18 propeller motors. Q: Will we still be able to see flying-car demonstrations at the Expo? A: Additional demo flights were planned during Japan's Golden Week holidays in early May, plus on weekends afterward. However, the day after the April 26 incident, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced that flights have been suspended for now, pending safety checks. The association said it will announce a date for flight resumptions in due course. Expo organizers must prioritize public safety while continuing to showcase cutting-edge technology.
