Flying car completes successful first flights at NITRA, Slovakia
Obviously, the interest of flying cars is:
- to be able to take advantage of small airports, which are at least 10 times more numerous than large airports (more than 3000 Europe)
- to be able to go directly from the airport to your own destination, without having to resort to car rental, which is not always available and often rather expensive.
- to become a popular means of transport despite its price, which will likely be beyond the reach of middle-class individuals. Because any private flights charter company could offer a flying car like this for hire.
The AirCar, the fifth generation of the flying car designed by Professor Stefan Klein, made two 500m flights at Piestany Airport in Slovakia on October 27, 2020. The AirCar carried out two safe takeoffs and landings, performing two full airport tours, according to officials at Klein Vision.
The two-seater model is very light: weighs 1,100 kg (2,425 lbs) and can support an additional 200 kg (440 lbs) per flight.
In-flight fuel consumption of barely 10 l per 100 km!
Powered by a 1.6l BMW engine, the flying car has an effective output of 140 hp, according to company officials. In the near future, they plan to equip it with a 300 horsepower engine. The AirCar has an estimated range of 1000 km (621 miles) and reports an in-flight fuel consumption of 18 l / h (4.75 gallons). This figure is quite astonishing, because it should fly at least 180 km / h, which would be equivalent to a consumption of 10 l per 100 km, really very low. “After the completion of all required flight tests in accordance with EASA regulations, we will deliver a model with a 300hp ADEPT certified engine within the next six months,” said Professor Stefan Klein, Technical Director and Pilot of Klein Vision essay. “The good news is we already have a buyer.”
At the end of last week, the Slovak startup shared a video of the AirCar prototype successfully completing its maiden flight. The short clip doesn’t just show the plane hovering in the sky; it also displays the driving capabilities of the vehicle. It looks like the AirCar will be just as comfortable flying through the clouds as it will crash into the asphalt. This is probably due to the fact that the prototype is a road-ready car that can transform into a work plane with just the push of a few buttons.
At the start of the Klein Vision video, the futuristic-looking AirCar can be seen on the tarmac at Piestany Airport. The rear part of the car then slides back as two fenders come out of the car and begin to unfold. At the press of a button, the car turns into an airplane in two minutes. Once the wings are fully deployed, the prototype descends the runway and takes off into the sky. It then flies around the airfield before landing safely on the ground. Once the flight is over, the wings, fully, and the tail, partially, retract into the car, which is reduced to 5 m in length, which is the equivalent of a sedan, and it drives off.
With its first successful flights marked just 18 months after the start of development, Klein Vision is set to continue moving forward with the AirCar. The company plans to put the vehicle into production within the next six months.
Obstacles to overcome
This flying car seemed quite easy to drive even in flight. However, it will have to be approved, not easy in Europe where the population density calls for the authorities to be cautious. Easier in the United States, especially in some very sparsely populated states. It will also be necessary to provide for a pilot’s license, which could not be easier to obtain than for private planes, given the range and altitude achievable with this flying car.
Private flights rental brokers, keys to success
We saw on this blog that the lion jet relies on rentals rather than often sales to conquer the market. in my opinion, the same goes for this flying car, which seems to me to be an ideal addition to private jflights charter.
