AirCar, a dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle, has completed a 35-minute flight between two international airports in Slovakia. Klein Vision’s AirCar completed its 142nd successful landing in Bratislava’s airport on June 28th, 2021. This is the world’s first flight of a flying car between two international airports.
After landing, at a click of a button, the aircraft transformed into a sports car in under three minutes and was driven by its inventor, Professor Stefan Klein and co-founder, Anton Zajac to downtown Bratislava.
Under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority, the AirCar has completed over 40 hours of test flights, including steep 35 degree turns and stability and manoeuvrability testing. AirCar Prototype 1 has flown at 8200 ft and at 45% engine power it reached a speed of 170km/h.
AirCar Prototype 2, the pre-production model, will be equipped with a 300HP engine and receive the EASA CS-23 aircraft certification with an M1 road permit.
With its variable pitch propeller, the Prototype 2 is expected to have a cruise speed of 300km/h (162kt) and range of 1000km (621M).
Anton Zajac, the co-founder of Klein Vision, says: “This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles. It opens a new category of transportation and returns the freedom originally attributed to cars back to the individual.” said Professor Klein after exiting the AirCar cockpit in Bratislava. “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept; flying at 8,200ft at a speed of 92kt, it has turned science fiction into a reality.”
Dr. Branko Sarh, Boeing Co. Senior Technical Fellow, adds: “The automated transition from road vehicle into an air vehicle and vice versa, deploying/retracting wings and tail is not only the result of pioneering enthusiasm, innovative spirit and courage; it is an outcome of excellent engineering and professional knowledge.”
Klein Vision has been developing since 2017. It has 12 patents to protect this new and unique way of transformation from aircraft to car and vice versa.
Keyword: AirCar Completes The First Flight of a Flying Car Between Two International Airports