A staple of Science-fiction has become a reality as the AirCar completed a full 35-minute flight from the international airport in Nitra to the international airport in Bratislava.
The dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle completed the major intercity milestone bringing it one step closer to production this week.
Co-founder of Klein Vision Anton Zajac explained that “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept; flying at 8,200ft at a speed of 100kt, it has turned science fiction into a reality.”
Professor Stefan Klein conducted the flight, which saw the craft transform from aircraft into sports car in under three minutes after landing – allowing him to drive into downtown Bratislava.
The craft is powered by an AirCar Prototype 1 with a 160HP BMW engine, which sports a fixed propeller and a ballistic parachute. The prototype has reached 8,200ft and a cruising speed of 190km/hr.
So far the team have completed over 40 hours of test flights as well as steep 45-degree turns and stability and manoeuvrability testing.
The company as promised its pre-production model will have an upgraded 300HP engine, cruise speed of 300km/hr and range of 1,000km.
