The Rictor X4 is a groundbreaking personal eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft designed to make individual flight accessible and affordable — bringing a form of personal aviation into reach for the first time for many consumers. Unveiled at CES 2026 (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, the X4 has turned heads as one of the lowest-cost manned VTOL aircraft ever announced.

What Is the Rictor X4?

The Rictor X4 is a single-seat, ultralight eVTOL aimed at recreational and short-distance personal flight. Rather than positioning itself alongside traditional aircraft or commercial air taxis, the X4’s mission is to establish a new category of “light aerial mobility” — a personal vehicle that you can fly without the steep costs, licensing, or infrastructure normally associated with aviation.

Price and Availability

• Launch price: ~$39,900 USD
• Reservation deposit: ~$5,000 USD
• Expected first deliveries: Q2 2026

At roughly $40,000, the X4 undercuts many previous personal flight concepts by a dramatic margin. For comparison, other single-seat eVTOLs like the Jetson One have historically been priced well above $100,000.

Design and Features

The X4 blends simplicity with cutting-edge technology tailored for individual users:

• VTOL capability: Takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter.
• Eight-motor propeller configuration: Four arms with 63-inch carbon-fiber folding props provide lift and stability.
• Foldable for transport: Collapses to ~1.2 m³, fitting in a standard pickup truck bed.
• Safety systems: Dual-battery redundancy and an emergency parachute are built in for additional peace of mind.
• Low noise: Noise levels under ~65 dB make it quieter than many small drones.
• Control modes: Supports both manual flight control and pre-programmed routes, aiding both novice and experienced users.

Performance

• Top speed: ~80 km/h (~50 mph)
• Flight time: ~20 minutes per battery charge
• Payload capacity: ~100 kg (~220 lb)
  These specs position the X4 as a short-range recreational aircraft — ideal for aerial sightseeing, recreational flights, or quick hops across open land, rather than long-distance travel.

Pilot Licensing and Regulation

One of the X4’s most notable features is that it’s designed to meet FAA Part 103 ultralight aircraft regulations in the United States. That means:

• No pilot’s license required for operation (in the U.S.)
• No airworthiness certification needed as long as flight rules are respected
  These regulatory exemptions make personal flight simpler and more appealing to hobbyists and early adopters.

A New Era of Personal Mobility?

Rictor’s vision with the X4 isn’t merely to sell an aircraft — it’s to redefine how people approach personal transportation. By sidestepping traditional aviation barriers like cost and licensing, the X4 suggests a future where short-distance air travel could become as commonplace as riding a motorcycle or driving a car. Whether that future is widespread remains to be seen, but the X4 has certainly ignited imaginations and sparked conversations about what personal flight might look like in the near future.

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