Klein Vision AirCar just completed its first intercity test flight
The future of the flying car is here, say hello to the Klein Vision AirCar
The idea of a flying car has been thrown around for several decades, but making it a reality was never easy. Some flying cars are basically stuck on the ground or stuck on paper and don't make it past the concept phase.
However, it seems one company is well on its way to actually selling flying cars to the public. Klein Vision, a Slovakian-based company, was recently able to take their flying on its first successful intercity flight.
The AirCar was able to travel from the international airport in Nitra to the international airport in Bratislava in 35 minutes. This was a distance of about 75 kilometers, as the crow flies.
This BMW-powered machine is actually a dual-mode car/aircraft-type vehicle. The transformation is quick though: the AirCar can go from car to aerial vehicle in just 3 minutes and vice versa. It does this thanks to a set of retractable wings and a tail that can be deployed or stowed away when not in use.
As mentioned earlier, the AirCar is powered by a BMW-derived engine. Not only does it power the car itself, but it also drives the propeller that allows the AirCar to take flight. There are currently two prototypes of the AirCar. First is Prototype 1 which has a 160 PS engine. It has completed over 40 hours of test flights, has already flown up to 8,200 feet, and has reached a cruising speed of 190 km/h.
Next is the more powerful Prototype 2 which gets a 300 PS engine. It has been rated to reach cruising speeds of up to 300 km/h and has a variable pitch propeller.
Still skeptical about this flying car being able to take flight? Check out the video and see for yourself how its inventor, Professor Stefan Klein, was able to take the AirCar both in the air and on the road.
There are no plans yet to make a production model for the public. However, given the successful test flights by Klein Vision, perhaps we are now a step closer to affordable flying cars for everyone. The only question now is, do you also need a pilot's license to drive/fly one?
