Flying Cars Will Soon Become A Reality, With ‘AirCar’ Set For Launch In 2021
Image via KleinVision
Humankind has been hoping to take automobiles to the air like the ones long depicted in sci-fi films. Soon, that might just be a reality, as the release of an ‘AirCar’ is on the horizons by way of Slovakian developer KleinVision.
The company has been testing out its new AirCar, which claims to transform from a road vehicle to an aircraft within three minutes. The model is currently undergoing testing, and founder and designer Stefan Klein plans for its launch to be next year.
Klein completed two take-offs and landings from Piestany general aviation airport in October. Each flight saw the AirCar in the air for over seven minutes, reaching a speed of 108 knots (124 miles) per hour and an altitude near 1,000 feet.
When the AirCar is on the road, it functions as a two-seat sports car. Within the automotive is a pusher propeller in its twin-boom tail, which supports vertical stabilizers with rudders. The stabilizers are fixed in by a horizontal elevator.
When the flying mode is activated, the booms will branch out hydraulically as the wings, measuring 10.8 feet, release from the fuselage vertically and stretch 90 degrees into a horizontal position.
KleinVision is working on getting around 50 hours of flight testing, and plans to switch out its current BMW powerplant in the vehicle with an aircraft engine built by South African start-up Adapt Airmotive.
Check out the AirCar in action below.
[via FlightGlobal, cover image via KleinVision]
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