Personal planes which can take off noiselessly from the back garden will be possible within two years.

    Lilium Aviation is inventing an electric two-seater airplane which  takes just 20 hours to learn to fly and can travel at speeds of  250mph.More importantly, the small plane, which weighs just 25kg, can take off vertically which means it does not need to fly from an airport, but could be parked outside a house or in a garden. The company says the design will “open the door to a new class of simpler, quieter and environmentally friendly planes” and will be possible from 2018.

    “Our goal is to develop an airplane for use in everyday life,” said Daniel, CEO and one of the company's four founders. "We are going for a plane that can take off and land vertically and does not need the difficult and expensive infrastructure of an airport.

    Although helicopters offer a choice, they are very noisy and difficult to fly and require expensive licenses. They also have no backup if the rotor fails, making them costly to build and keep. While firstly limited to airfields, the Lilium airplane will eventually take off vertically from almost anywhere – even from back gardens – it needs only an open flat area of 50 ft. by 50ft (15 m x 15m).

    The plane is classed as a Light Sport Aircraft for two users, with the pilot's license requiring 20 hours' minimum training – almost like taking a driving license. It is intended for fun flying during daylight, in good weather conditions and in least crowded airspace up to 3 km altitude. The airplane would have to follow the same flight laws as helicopters.