Klein Vision, a technology and innovation company founded in Slovakia is the inventor of the hybrid AirCar. An amazing prototype that conveniently doubles as a private plane. The AirCar took its first inter-city flight in June 2021. Designed by Professor Štefan Klein, an aerodynamics engineer who began working on flying cars in the late 1980’s. He is also the developer of the AeroMobil, the prototype which is also the predecessor of the Klein Vision AirCar.
The AirCar is a two-seat road car with four large road wheels. Styled like a sports coupe, it contributes 30-40 per cent of the total lift when in the air. To be able to take flight, it is designed with two foldout wings and extending tailbooms. A pusher propeller is permanently installed between the fuselage and tail. It also comes with a parachute for safety.
It is constructed with a semi-monocoque of carbon fibre composite over a steel subframe. It operates on petrol-pump fuel and has a 160bhp BMW engine. Over 20 programmable servo motors are employed in the AirCar to perform the transition between road and air configurations. When on the road, the retracted tail surface creates a downforce similar to conventional rear aerofoils.
The AirCar took its first flight on 22 October 2020. The current prototype takes off at around 75 mph, after a distant run of approximately 980ft. Cruising speed in the air is approximately 100mph with an estimated destination range of 620 miles.
Would you purchase your own AirCar? Let us know in the comments.
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