Air taxis keep gaining momentum, yet one challenge keeps resurfacing: many cities have few places for them to land. AutoFlight believes it has an answer. The company introduced a zero-carbon water vertiport that moves across rivers, lakes or coastal zones. This solar-powered platform works as a mobile hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and aims to remove one of the biggest barriers to growth.

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eVTOL air taxis promise quick trips that jump over traffic and turn long drives into short flights. That idea first appeared in the 1940s and 50s when helicopter passenger services launched in the US and Britain. Those early attempts faded because they could land in only a handful of places. Rooftops and scattered piers created new congestion points. Without enough landing pads, the entire system stalled.

AutoFlight's new floating vertiport flips the model. Instead of forcing cities to build fixed sites that take years to complete, the vertiport travels to the aircraft.

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The vertiport sits on a self-propelled barge with a deck lined with solar panels. It uses clean energy to charge eVTOLs without relying on grid power. A small cabin serves as a departure lounge and technical room. Operators can reposition the platform wherever demand rises, which gives cities far more flexibility.

It works with several AutoFlight aircraft. That includes the six-seat Prosperity passenger craft and the White Shark and CarryAll vehicles used for cargo and industrial tasks. All can land, recharge, and take off from the same floating hub.

Because the platform runs on solar power and needs no major construction, it can be deployed much faster than any land-based site.

AutoFlight showed the full system on November 22 at Dianshan Lake near Shanghai. A 2-ton-class eVTOL took off from the floating vertiport during a public test. The company also flew three aircraft in formation and completed live airdrop missions with supplies and life rafts. The event highlighted how the system supports emergency work and low-altitude logistics.

THE WORLD'S FIRST FLYING CAR IS READY FOR TAKEOFF

This new platform supports a wide range of real-world uses that reach far beyond simple city travel.

Offshore wind sites and oil rigs often wait hours for parts or personnel. AutoFlight says the system could improve transport efficiency more than tenfold.

Teams can pair wide-area searches with fast aerial response. This cuts reaction time by over half and boosts survival odds.

Cities along rivers and bays could build quick air routes without touching roads.

Tour operators could add a "flight plus water" experience to premium trips.

Multiple floating hubs can link into a network during peak travel or disaster relief missions.

Sustainable aviation keeps gaining importance. AutoFlight partnered with CATL to integrate high-safety batteries into both its aircraft and vertiports. The system uses clean energy and low-impact infrastructure. It taps underused water surfaces and avoids major construction. Cities can deploy these pads quickly, which helps air mobility grow sooner.

Air taxis may feel far off, yet this solution tackles a real problem. Landing and charging sites remain the missing link. Floating vertiports open the door to fast routes between airports and city centers. They also set the stage for quick regional hops that cut travel times and reduce stress. Tourism operators may even use them to launch new water-to-air experiences.

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Air taxis cannot expand without more places to land. AutoFlight's solar water platform offers a practical option that uses clean energy and fast deployment. If cities embrace this model, air mobility could shift from concept to daily use faster than expected.

Would you feel comfortable boarding an air taxi from a floating platform? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Idaho bar owner Mark Fitzpatrick said his saloon has been flooded with both praise and outrage after a promotion offering "free beer" to anyone who helps Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identify and deport an illegal immigrant went viral.

The Old State Saloon’s promotion, which was posted Nov. 29 on X, was viewed nearly 8 million times. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also reposted it, generating both excitement and online attacks, including threats to burn down the business and kill its outspoken owner.

"At Old State Saloon, we really aren't strangers to speaking out boldly about conservative Christian values and truth and putting the truth out there," Fitzpatrick told Fox News Digital, adding that speaking in a world with "deception" and "evil" causes people to get "really upset."

Fitzpatrick said his bar’s first controversial promotion came in 2024 when he launched "Heterosexual Awesomeness Month," featuring discounts and free beer for heterosexual men, women and couples throughout June in response to Pride Month.

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The saloon owner said his latest idea was inspired by four years of former President Joe Biden's immigration policies, describing them as a "complete disaster" that incentivized "some of the worst of the worst people in the world to come into this country."

While his promotion was meant to promote the efforts of law enforcement and ICE, Fitzpatrick said it was quickly attacked online, and the saloon has posted several social media exchanges this week with individuals strongly disagreeing with its conservative ideology.

"What liberals want to do is they attack you," he said. "They go on attack and they start calling you names."

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Fitzpatrick said his family has been threatened, and he has received "disgusting" messages and voicemails, including threats to torch his saloon.

"People are just outright saying I should die for this," he said. "It's really, really despicable."

Fitzpatrick urged anyone dismissing his promotion to visit his bar, asserting that "if any of those liberals actually came in and were willing to talk," they would meet someone who "would sit down with them and talk and listen to what they have to say."

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Fitzpatrick remains unfazed, saying the negative comments only make him want to "double down." His saloon has also continued to offer new promotions throughout the month, including "Manly American Monday," where men who support ICE get a free beer just for walking through the door.

The bar also offers free beer on Tuesdays to ladies who "tattle" on illegal immigrants by calling ICE, along with a Wednesday special shaving 10% of the bill for heterosexual couples.

"The way I look at it is they're kind of disclosing like their wickedness right to us in public and showing us who they are," Fitzpatrick said in reference to the online attacks and threats he's received.

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Fitzpatrick has also received "overwhelming support," including encouraging mail and cards, amid the negativity and threats.

"At my saloon when I'm there after a long day of dealing with just wickedness and all the calls and everything else, people are there and they're there just to come in and meet me and support me and encourage me," he said.

Fitzpatrick does not expect many patrons to claim their freebie, but he did say that Ryan Spoon, vice chair of the Ada County Republican Central Committee in Idaho, claimed his after he provided evidence that he helped ICE make an arrest.

Fitzpatrick added that the promotion is "not really about beers."

"I think the way it's working is it's drawing attention to the issue and conversations are happening," he said.