At CES 2025, Sambo Motors Group presented its latest project, theHAM III-2a hybrid aircraft that aims to redefine urban air mobility. Although the concept of the “flying taxi” is not new, this model stands out for its innovative design and a hybrid propulsion that makes it more sustainable than previous prototypes.
With a wingspan of 9 metersa height of 4.5 meters and a weight of 850 kilograms, the aircraft is designed for short urban routes and commercial transport, although there is no shortage of future ambitions linked to city taxi services. According to a company spokesperson, interviewed during the event:
HAM III-2 is versatile: it adapts to commercial, military and urban transport purposes. It could become the flying taxi of the future.
But the road to turning this vision into reality is still long: the aircraft must go through rigorous testing and obtain certifications in both the United States and South Korea before it can be marketed.
Hybrid propulsion
The real strength of the HAM III-2 is its hybrid propulsion systemwhich combines an electric battery for vertical takeoff and hydrogen fuel cells for horizontal flight. This system allows the overall weight of the aircraft to be reduced, given that the hydrogen cells eliminate the bulk of batteries that are too heavy for long-range flights.
The performances, although good, are still limited compared to the expectations of truly efficient transport: the aircraft reaches a maximum speed of 180 km/han autonomy of 100km and a flight time of approx 40 minutes. Parameters that make it ideal for short urban journeys, but which hardly satisfy the needs of interurban transport.
The design predicts four horizontal helices for vertical take-off e two rear propellers for horizontal propulsion, making the aircraft agile in maneuvering but still limited in operational capabilities compared to fully electric or long-range models.
Desert Trials: Crucial Tests in the United States
One of the main obstacles to the diffusion of HAM III-2 is related to regulations: currently, South Korea lacks a legislative framework that allows flight tests with hydrogen cells. For this reason, Sambo Motors has decided to carry out the tests in the United States, in the desert, where the extreme climatic conditions will allow the aircraft to be tested on critical maneuvers such as take-off, landing and turns.
The tests planned for 2025 will not only be a test bed to evaluate the technical capabilities of the aircraft, but will also represent an important step to convince regulators. Sambo Motors is collaborating with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and with theKorean Civil Aviation Bureau to obtain the necessary certifications, but the process could take years.
Despite the excitement generated by the presentation, HAM III-2 is not yet ready to take off in the commercial sense of the term. The limitations of autonomy and flight duration, combined with the still high costs of producing and maintaining a hybrid aircraft, make it difficult to imagine large-scale implementation in the short term.
