I flew on a modern-day air taxi and saw how it's the perfect middle ground between driving and flying private for regional travel

Flying on a Hopscotch Air air taxi.Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

• The modern-day air taxi isn't a futuristic vertical take-off and land aircraft but often a propeller aircraft that's inexpensive to operate and can comfortably fly passengers on regional routes.
• Hopscotch Air provides air taxi flights from airports across the Northeast as a cost-effective alternative to chartering a traditional private aircraft and time-effective alternative to driving.
• I flew on one of Hopscotch Air's air taxis between two airports in Long Island to see if it truly beat driving.

The idea of an air taxi for most is the futuristic concept of self-flying eVTOLs soaring over traffic-ridden city streets, flying passengers to their meetings across town. While that may be a reality of urban air mobility one day, the modern-day air taxi is completely different.

Hopscotch Air is a New York-based air taxi service that uses light aircraft to connect remote cities across the Northeast as a cost-effective alternative to chartering a private aircraft. Ideal for regional travel, CEO Andrew Schmertz views the firm's competitors to be more trains and automobiles than it does private jets and offers the convenience and exclusivity of a private aircraft experience without the costly extras the drive up the price.

Powering the air taxi fleet is the Cirrus SR-20/22 series of piston aircraft, one of the most popular in general aviation known for their comfort, style, and high tech systems.

I took a ride on a quick demonstration flight across Long Island between Farmingdale's Republic Airport and Brookhaven Airport to see whether the service is worth the premium compared to driving or taking a commercial flight.

Here's what it was like.