Up, up and away: flying AirCar earns its wings

The AirCar, a supercar that comes with wings, has been given the green light to take to the skies.

AirCar’s wings popout and unfold in a manner reminiscent of a Transformers toy. Picture:SWNS

A supercar that comes with wings has been given the green light to take to the skies. The AirCar, which runs on unleaded petrol, has been awarded an official European certificate of airworthiness after completing 70 hours of flight testing, including more than 200 take-offs and landings.

Made by the Slovakian company Klein Vision, the prototype weighs 1,100kg and uses a 140 horsepower, 1.6 litre BMW engine to power wheels on the road and a propeller for flight.

The vehicle takes only two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from a car into an aircraft, with its wings unfolding in a manner reminiscent of a Transformers toy.

Having passed safety tests last week, its manufacturer says a production model could be available next year. Its price has not been divulged.

The AirCar can transport two people and fly at 118mph and reach an altitude of 8,000ft. Picture:SWNS

“AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars,” Professor Stefan Klein, its creator, said.

The prototype AirCar, which can transport two people, can fly at 118mph and reach an altitude of 8,000ft. On the road it can reach about 100mph, its manufacturer claims.

Last June the prototype completed its first inter-city flight in Slovakia, flying for about 35 minutes between Nitra and Bratislava airports before being driven into the city centre. A more powerful prototype is also being tested.

The AirCar is the latest project in a long history of “flying cars” pursued by inventors since the 1920s. The only one to work was a model that was briefly available in the US in the 1940s.

The advancement of flying cars took a hit in December 2020 when Uber announced it was selling off its project, Elevate.

The Times