Several flying car prototypes are currently under construction, some with a design that resembles a drone equipped with multiple rotors, such as the SkyDrive SD-03 presented in Japan. Others appeal to developments that resemble the operation of a small plane.
In this regard, the AirCar (V5), the latest generation flying car manufactured by a Slovakian automotive firm Klein Vision, stands out for transforming itself from a road vehicle into an air vehicle in less than 3-minutes. The car, suitable for self-driven journeys or as a commercial taxi service, can go from driving to flying mode with the click of a button.
In the last test carried out by the founder of Klein Vision, the prototype managed to fly at the height of about 450 meters. It successfully completed two 1500′ AGL flights at Piestany airport in Slovakia, safely achieving two full airport patterns, including two takeoffs and landings.
Powered by a 1.6-liter engine with an effective power output of 140 hp, the AirCar V5 takes you from ground to sky with a takeoff of 300 meters, reaching speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph). The estimated travel range of AirCar is 1,000km, and flight consumption of 18 liters/h. The two-seat model weighs 1,100kg and can carry an additional load of 200kg per flight.
“The key flight parameters confirmed all theoretical concepts and calculations that the development of the AirCar was based on. Following the completion of all required flight tests in compliance with EASA regulations, we will deliver a model with a certified ADEPT, 300 hp engine within the next six next months,” said Professor Stefan Klein, Klein Vision‘s CTO and test pilot. “The good news is, we already have a buyer,” Professor Klein added. The manufacturer plans to launch a commercial model in 2021 with different engine and seat configurations.
Klein Vision began with the management of the necessary permits for this model to operate in European airspace. As a precedent, the Dutch firm Pal-V presented the Liberty model two years ago, a vehicle with a seat that resembles a tricycle, equipped with a combustion engine and with a range of 1,900 km on the road.
The most striking feature of the Liberty is in the folding rotor that allows it to fly like a helicopter, with a range of about 500 km in the air with a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The Pal-V Liberty has already received permission to take to the streets in Europe.
