Flying Cars are Now a Fast-Approaching Reality

Yes, you read that right. Flying cars are no longer a fantasy but a fast-approaching reality. The future is right here.  

Imagine it’s a busy weekday and you have an important meeting to attend. You leave early but end up stuck in traffic. Running late, you curse your fate and the massive jam that you’re in. Oh, how you wish to just fly and reach your destination on time. What if I say, your prayer has been answered. The futuristic flying car is now a reality.

The Aircar Prototype 1 developed by Klein Vision (a Slovak company) has earned a certificate of airworthiness through the Slovak Transport Authority (Government Office in Bratislava, Slovakia). A former dream that was once unimaginable has become a reality.

Using a 1.6L BMW engine, the Aircar is capable of hitting speeds over 100mph (160kph) and reaching altitudes above 8,000ft (2,500m). Its first inter-city flight on 28th June 2021, from Nitra to Bratislava in Slovakia was a huge success, completed in 35 minutes. Since then, the Aircar has logged up to 70 hours of flight and over 200 takeoffs and landings. It is equipped with a fixed propeller and ballistic parachute.

With just a click, the Aircar transforms into an aircraft in just 2 minutes and 15 seconds. It carries two passengers with a combined weight limit of 200 kg, runs on regular fuel, and requires a pilot license to operate. Some features of the Aircar include retractable wings and folded tail surfaces that improve longitudinal stability. The developers suggest that this Aircar could be ideal for air-taxi services as well. It, however, requires a runway of at least 300 meters (984 feet) for takeoff.

Meanwhile, Prof. Stefan Klein, the Founder, and CEO at KleinVision is working to create a more powerful and lighter version called Aircar prototype 2 with an air motive aviation engine that will help the car reach speeds of more than 300 k/ph with a range of 1,000 km. This brings the Aircar one step closer to mass production. Although its price has not yet been disclosed, it is expected to be on the market next year around 2023. Additionally, KleinVision plans to release three and four-seater versions of the Aircar. 

With the Aircar, travel is expected to be as easy as flying in Aladdin’s magic carpet. One can presume that we now live in a world of real magic, as we’ve read in fairytales. However, one must be aware that as mankind enters the era of an advanced future, there’s a need for backup plans and intensive research.

This revolutionary new invention has the potential to solve the ever-growing problem of traffic congestion on roads. Not only will it save time on commuting, but it may also reduce road accidents. Even so, our roadways must also be capable of accommodating such innovations. To create an evolving future, technological advances should go hand in hand with innovation. Taking action in accordance with what lies ahead is crucial at this point of rapid development. Perhaps one day we will be able to fly in a car with an inbuilt time machine that will let us travel to the past, present, and future. A limitless imagination and a desire to succeed will lead to creating history.

Source: bbc.com and auto.hindustantimes.com