Self-taught inventor flies electric prototype over Uttarakhand mountains
Ravi Tamta’s single-seat electric aircraft, HAPIDA SKYNeX, lifted off from an army helipad in Almora for a brief test flight in August 2026.
In the mountainous region of Uttarakhand, where winding roads impede rapid travel, inventor Ravi Tamta tested his electric personal air-mobility prototype, HAPIDA SKYNeX, from an army helipad in Almora. The single-seat vehicle, powered by multiple rotors and batteries, achieved a lift-off that lasted just under a minute under the watch of district magistrate Anshul Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Chandrashekhar R. Ghodke.
Tamta, a self-educated engineer from Kaflikhan village, founded Hapida Sky Private Limited and spent 13 years developing the craft without a formal degree. The chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, congratulated him, calling the milestone an inspiration for youth. While the test proves the concept can leave the ground, further trials are needed to address safety, battery performance, and regulatory approval before any practical use in emergencies or remote transport.
Why it matters
It shows how low-cost, self-taught innovation could eventually improve access to remote mountain communities.
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