Flying cars was a concept that most of us believed we would see when we grew up when we were little. However, it seems that this dream is gradually turning into reality.
The Slovak Transport Authority has awarded a certificate of airworthiness to a flying car capable of reaching speeds of over 100mph (160kmh) and altitudes over 8,000ft (2500m). It was stated that it took 2 minutes and 15 seconds for the hybrid automobile aircraft called ‘AirCar’, which was powered by a BMW engine and a normal gasoline pump, to transform from a car to an aircraft.
Medium-distance travel can change forever
The flying vehicle made a 35-minute flight between international airports in Nitra and Bratislava, Slovakia, in June. For the vehicle, which was given an airworthiness certificate after 70 hours of flight testing and more than 200 take-offs and landings, the creator of the vehicle said, “The AirCar certificate opens the door to the mass production of very efficient flying cars,” and noted that with this certificate, it is possible to change medium-haul travel forever.
Naturally, a pilot license is required to use the AirCar, which takes off and lands like an ordinary airplane. Speaking to BBC News, company officials stated that they are planning to take a flight from Paris to London in the near future.
A senior research fellow in avionics and aircraft systems at the University of the West of England, Dr. Steve Wright, on the other hand, states that this development is a good step for the company and although they have a long way to go, they are very optimistic for a future where they will see AirCars.
On the subject of the mass appeal of flying cars, Dr. Wright is a little cautious. Although Wrigh states that the individual transportation revolution is coming, he notes that this change will not be experienced in this way.
Work is underway for pilotless air taxi services
In addition to these, other companies continue to work on a vehicle that can fly and go on land. The three-wheeled PAL-V Liberty, which is road legal in Europe and flies like a gyrocopter, is seeking certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
On the other hand, a number of companies are working on pilotless air taxi services. Significant investments are also being made for the service, which is thought to be a convenient and flexible mode of transportation. For example, Boeing recently announced that it has made an additional $450 million investment in Wisk, a California-based autonomous air taxi company it owns with Kitty Hawk, a company founded by Google’s co-founder Larry Page.
