January 26, 2022, 10:58 am | Read time: 3 minutes
A car that transforms into an airplane at the push of a button and takes off–what not too long ago sounded like science fiction or seemed possible only in movies is now a reality. With the so-called “AirCars” from the Slovak manufacturer Klein Vision, it might soon even be possible to fly from London to Paris.
In Slovakia, the flying cars have already passed several tests with flying colors, as the developers from Klein Vision announced in a press release. The “AirCar” has received an official airworthiness certificate from the Slovak Transport Authority after completing 70 hours of “rigorous flight tests.” In total, the test flights included more than 200 takeoffs and landings. The scope of the tests meets the standards of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
“The demanding flight tests covered the full range of flight and performance maneuvers and demonstrated astonishing static and dynamic stability in airplane mode,” the company stated.
AirCars Are Equipped with BMW Engine
According to Klein Vision, a team of eight specialists spent more than 100,000 hours converting design concepts into mathematical models, which eventually led to the production of the prototype. The “AirCar” is powered by a 1.6-liter BMW engine. As CNN reports, the dual car-airplane runs on regular fuel from the gas station. It reaches a maximum flight altitude of about 5,400 meters and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
Last June, according to CNN, the flying car already completed a 35-minute test flight between the airports of Nitra and the Slovak capital Bratislava. After landing, the airplane transformed into a car and drove to the city center of Bratislava. In fact, transforming the car into an airplane and vice versa requires just the push of a single switch. The transformation takes just a little over 2 minutes.
With AirCars from London to Paris
And soon it might even be possible to fly with an “AirCar” from London to Paris, for example. The manufacturers are already working on a successor model with speeds of over 300 km/h and a range of 1,000 kilometers. “The AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars,” said Professor Stefan Klein, the inventor and head of the development team. He added, “It is the official and final confirmation of our ability to forever change mid-distance travel.”
According to “National Geographic,” there have been several attempts by various manufacturers in the past to develop flying cars. However, no invention has yet gone beyond the prototype stage. Currently, the Dutch company PAL-V is working on an EASA certification for a helicopter-car for air travel. Additionally, a Chinese manufacturer named XPeng is reportedly ready to launch the first flying cars. Welcome to the future.