"AirCar, a dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle moved closer to production this week, fulfilling a key development milestone in a 35-minute flight from the international airport in Nitra to the international airport in Bratislava on June 28th, 2021"
"How much does AirCar cost?
The AirCar can hold a maximum of two people with a total weight of 440 pounds, and its highest in-flight speed is 118 mph. Unlike other flying car prototypes, AirCar isn't able to take off or land vertically, requiring a runway like a plane. Klein's AirCar took two years to produce and cost just under $2 million.Jul 1, 2021"
"The hybrid car-aircraft, AirCar, is equipped with a BMW engine and runs on regular petrol-pump fuel.
Its creator, Prof Stefan Klein, said it could fly about 1,000km (600 miles), at a height of 8,200ft (2,500m), and had clocked up 40 hours in the air so far.
It takes two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from car into aircraft."
An amazing feat of engineering. And money. Good for them.
While this sort of machine appeals to the inner fantasies of many people, my self included, the reality is that we have a machine that does neither job well.
But it's fun to tackle a challenge and there will surely be a market for people who have the money and be the only one on the block with a <fill in the blank here>.
I totally agree with you, it's the spork principle. Anything designed to do two different tasks will probably be mediocre at both. The example I remember is the Amphicar, a really neat toy, but not a great boat nor a great car.
It would be great for going someplace that there were no roads to, but had roads when you got there....like an island or remote village someplace...but then the preparation for flying is a little more intensive than for driving, so preflight checks might negate any time saved...still a cool engineering accomplishment, if not really practical...
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Now what would really be cool is if it would unfold while you're driving down the highway and you could pull back on the wheel before you got to that traffic jam in front of you.
We should pass that on to the professor as an idea for the next model...
Call me tight but: two million dollars! Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a few one to two hundred dollar planes and a few cars and leave them at strategically selected places.
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Since the average American Male weighs in at 197.5 lbs. ( and is getting heavier ) you better travel light because it doesn't leave you much room for luggage.
Since the average American Male weighs in at 197.5 lbs. ( and is getting heavier ) you better travel light because it doesn't leave you much room for luggage.
If you need more lift, just inflate the tires with Helium!!
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Cool New Flying Car
Re: Cool New Flying Car
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