ROMA – AirCar, a vehicle that transforms into an airplane in less than three minutes and whose series production could begin within a few months, has made the first 35-minute flight from Nitra International Airport to Bratislava Airport. With this first flight, authorized by the Slovakian air control service, the vehicle has completed its first homologation phase to become a real “multipurpose”, after having carried out 142 take-off and landing tests.
After arriving in Bratislava at 6.05am on June 28th, at the push of a button and in less than three minutes, the plane transformed into a road vehicle which the company founder then drove to. center of the Slovakian town.
“Professor Stefan Klein has thus earned the title of world leader in the development of user-friendly flying cars,” said Dr. Branko Sarh, Senior Technical Fellow of Boeing Co. “The automated transition from road vehicle to aircraft and conversely, portraying wings and tail is not only the result of pioneering enthusiasm, innovative spirit and courage; it is the result of excellent engineering and professional knowledge, ”added the Boeing official.
The AirCar Prototype 1 is equipped with a 160 HP BMW engine with fixed propeller and ballistic parachute. Under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority, the AirCar completed over 40 hours of test flights, including 45-degree turns and stability and maneuverability tests. AirCar Prototype 1 flew up to a height of 2500 meters and reached a maximum cruising speed of 190 km / h.
AirCar Prototype 2, the pre-production model, will be equipped with a 300hp engine and will receive EASA CS-23 certification with an M1 road permit. With its variable pitch propeller, the Prototype 2 is expected to have a cruising speed of 300km / h and a range of 1000km.
“This flight begins a new era of vehicles that can be converted into aircraft. It opens up a new category of transport,” said Professor Klein after exiting the cockpit of the AirCar in Bratislava. “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept; it has made science fiction a reality,” said Anton Zajac, co-founder of Klein Vision.
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