See the futuristic new Blade ‘helicopters’ that will take New York’s elite to the Hamptons – quietly

The new “helicopters” that bring super-rich New Yorkers to the Hamptons and beyond are almost completely silent, all-electric, and look straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster.

Blade Air Mobility, known for transporting elite New Yorkers by helicopter, tested its new eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft at Westchester County Airport on Tuesday as part of the company’s commitment to being green.

The futuristic new aircraft, commonly referred to as EVA or electric vertical aircraft, looks like a hybrid of a small plane and a helicopter with spinning blades on the aircraft’s wings.

Produced by Vermont-based aerospace company BETA Technologies, the helicopters are likely to appeal to residents of the Big Apple, who have repeatedly complained about helicopter noise disrupting their daily lives and even Shakespeare in the park.

Noise was such a problem that Rep. Jerrold Nadler even pleaded with the Federal Aviation Administration to divert helicopter traffic from Central Park.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is known to love flying in a helicopter herself, vetoed a widely-passed bipartisan bill to ban tourist helicopters from Hudson River Park, saying it was the federal responsibility to regulate airspace.

Although Blade is one of several companies making helicopter noise in New York, it hopes its move to silent electric aircraft will encourage others to use similar aircraft.

According to Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal, the flight is a “historic moment” for urban aviation.

“The demonstration represents a key first step in our transition from helicopters to new silent and environmentally friendly aircraft,” he said.

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Tuesday’s successful flight was the first test of a manned electric vertical aircraft in a tri-state area.

RedBird Capital, a firm founded by Goldman Sachs alum Jerry Cardinale, has acquired a 5% stake in private helicopter company Blade, it was revealed in January.

The company is also one of the largest air carriers of human organs in the world.