The TELEDRONE concept was formulated on the reverse of a set of NOTAMS while in the cruise above the South China Sea. But unlike airliners, VTOLs developed initially as means of ascending that were only later harnessed to moving between A and B; and their range and endurance still pale against aeroplanes.

Nonethless, the helicopter developed niche markets unforeseen at their inception, and eVTOLs are certain to follow the same path. Beside whatever you may foresee, I imagine them elevating parachutists during practise, or shuttling powder skiers in the same way; lowering Madeirans to the coast, else flitting above Lake Como on course for croissants.

More urgently they might elevate soldiers above minefields or transfer sailors from ship to ship or else ship to shore, besides searching coastal waters for the missing.

Principal eVTOL investor interest currently focuses on what is considered, but has yet to be proven, to be a 'killer' app (in name if not practise), in the form of shuttling those who might otherwise use taxis to negotiate the burgeoning urban sprawl.

All well and good though neither the only ~ nor necessarily the fastest ~ way to evolve a wholly new industry. In common with prior technological developments, might not the source of greatest demand spring from the lowest of levels of both altitude and cost?

If you could build a flat-pack flying machine on an IKEA timeframe, and at the cost of a motorcycle, would you want to?

If you're still reading, you probably would.

APPLICATIONS