It can be run on regular pump fuel, and can transform in just a few seconds from a car into an aircraft.
Flying cars is not a new concept. However, very few of these vehicles fly or test their prototypes publicly. Klein Vision successfully flew the AirCar inter-city. The AirCar is now closer to production by achieving a significant development milestone.
The inter-city flight was commanded by Professor Stefan Klein, its inventor, and Anton Zajac (co-founder), on June 28, 2021. The flight takes 35 minutes from Nitra in Slovakia to Bratislava, Slovakia. This marks the 142nd successful landing of AirCar.
The AirCar, unlike other flying cars, is a dual-mode car/aircraft vehicle that transforms from a car into an aircraft in less than three minutes. The vehicle can transform from a four-wheeled sports car to a fully-fledged aircraft by deploying its wings or retracting its tail. The AirCar can’t be placed in your garage yet, as it needs to fly on a runway.
Two prototypes of the AirCar are available. The Prototype 1 runs on regular pump fuel and is powered by a 160-horsepower BMW fixed-propeller engine. It also has a ballistic parachutist. Under the control of the Civil Aviation Authority, it has flown more than 40 hours. It has already flies up to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) and has a maximum speed of 118 MPH (190 km/h).
The Prototype 2 is the second prototype. It has a more powerful engine. It is powered by a 300-hp engine and has been awarded the EASA CS-23 certification. It is equipped with a variable pitch propeller. It is expected to cruise at 186 mph (300 km/h), and have a range of 621 miles (1,000 km).
Although there is no date yet for the production AirCar, the milestones we’ve seen above suggest that it will be soon.