( CNN ) -- It may lack the grace of an airship , or the class of Concorde , but the `` Multicopter '' has a style all of its own . This somewhat awkward looking vehicle is the work of German company e-volo and a prototype has just made its first manned flight , after completing unmanned trials . With e-volo 's Thomas Senkel strapped into the center of its four-limbed frame , it flew for one minute and 30 seconds over a field in Southern Germany , powered by 16 small rotor blades . E-volo says its creation is powered entirely by lithium batteries and can carry a load of around 80kg -- about as much as it weighs . Watch `` Multicopter 's '' first manned flight . While the maiden flight may not have lasted long or covered much distance , it was enough to convince its designers that it has the potential to develop further . `` It could go longer , '' said e-volo 's Alexander Zosel . `` But for safety we decided before the take off to fly one minutes 30 seconds . '' `` This was a proof of concept , not really safe to fly , '' he added . `` We work on a prototype that we will fly in summer 2012 very safely . '' The pilot steers the Multicopter using a joystick and , despite looking as though it might be grounded by a strong gust of wind , it is very easy to control , according to Zosel . Although there 's plenty of development work left to do , e-volo believes the vehicle could one day be have a variety of uses , including an air taxi . And they say its ability to hover in one place means it has the potential to be used for search and rescue missions . `` There are many possible applications , '' said Zosel . `` We see it becoming a widespread form of personal transport . ''
The German-made `` Multicopter '' has made its first manned flight . It is the second such unmanned aircraft to be flown by a German company after an experimental helicopter in 2008. Creators say finished model could be used as an air taxi .