Lilium Aviation, a team of four engineers from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, has announced the release of a new aircraft set for January 2018. The team claims that the size and design of this plane allows it to be taken off from virtually anywhere. "The Lilium vehicle combines the benefits of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft while avoiding their drawbacks. While initially restricted to airfields, the goal is for it to take off vertically from almost anywhere – even from back gardens – it needs only an open flat area of about 15x15 m." Seating two people at a 440-pound payload (how much weight can be in the cockpit), this aircraft weighs in at just under one ton, one of the lightest in its class.

This vehicle is not only convenient in the sense that the need for air fields has been eliminated, but it is also environmentally friendly. Entirely electric, this aircraft dramatically cuts the amount of pollution usually produced by planes, as it produces no pollution at all. In the product announcement, the designers even claim that it can be charged with a simple wall socket found in an average household. Don't worry about storing your vehicle at your suburban home; with its electric base and ducted fan engines, Lilium has insured your neighbors will not be disturbed at all.

For this next part, I'm just going to throw some numbers at you. These stats all came from Lilium's website. The aircraft's top speed clocks in at 400 km/h with a 500 km range for each charged battery. So far they have produced several 25 kg prototypes, and are due to manufacture a "full-sized unmanned prototype later in 2016." While the company has yet to release a price tag for this vehicle, it is projected to be cheaper than other aircraft in its class.

With every great invention, there are downfalls. One of the biggest flaws in this design is the requirement of "good weather" conditions for flight. The founders stress that the vehicle must be flown in broad daylight with low air traffic. This aircraft is designed for recreational use only, as opposed to long-haul flights.

The process to obtain a valid pilot's licence for a plane of this stature is, in fact, fairly simple and user-friendly. Being a Light Sport Aircraft, a sport pilot's licence is required which only takes about 20 hours of dedication to achieve. It has also been noted by flight professionals that this vehicle will be extremely easy to fly, having an entirely computer-assisted control system.

This, my friends, is the future of aviation, and we are officially one step closer to flying around like the Jetsons.