The flying prototype AirCar made its first long-distance flight, covering about 70 kilometers (43 miles) between the airports of Nitra and Bratislava in Slovakia. According to Klein Vision's press release, the flying sports car spent 35 minutes in the air and developed a cruising speed of 170 kph (105 mph). What could possibly become the first mass-produced flying car has taken a major step forward.
What Are The Main Features Of The New Flying AirCar?
According to the creator of AirCar, Professor Stefan Klein, the car can fly up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) without refueling at a maximum altitude of 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles). It is designed for two people with a total weight of up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds).
“Professor Stefan Klein is the world leader in the development of user-friendly Flying Cars,” said Dr. Branko Sarh, Boeing Co. Senior Technical Fellow. “The automated transition from road vehicle into an air vehicle and vice versa, deploying/retracting wings and tail is not only the result of pioneering enthusiasm, innovative spirit and courage; it is an outcome of excellent engineering and professional knowledge,” he added.
It takes two minutes for the AirCar to transform from car to aircraft and vice versa. The process is completely automatic. The fenders retract into the sides of the vehicle and the tail moves closer to the rear bumper.
“This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles. It opens a new category of transportation and returns the freedom originally attributed to cars back to the individual,” said Professor Klein after exiting the AirCar cockpit in Bratislava.
AirCar Flying Car Specifications
The flying car is powered by a 160-hp BMW petrol engine. The next version of the prototype will be equipped with a 300-hp engine and will be able to accelerate to 300 kph (186 mph). In the air, the car moves due to the propeller located at the back.
The company claims that the development of AirCar took about two years and less than €2 million ($2.4 million). At the moment, the flying car has spent at least 40 hours in the air. During the tests, the stability of the aircraft was optimized, and risky maneuvers with turns up to 45 degrees were tried. The start of sales and the cost of AirCar have not yet been announced.
Source: Klein Vision