The Slovak authorities have issued the certificate of airworthiness to the AirCar, this convertible plane-car. After 70 hours of testing and 200 take-offs and landings ” compatible with EASA standards », the company progresses so that its vehicle is accepted in the sky and on the roads. But beware of bad surprises…
Is it really the best of both worlds?
And to think that we were promised flying cars!
Yes, this time, reality is trying to get closer to science fiction. Are flying cars close to becoming the standard of tomorrow? Klein Vision, the Slovak company that develops the AirCar, is convinced of this.
It must be said that the flight prototype is progressing, with already more than 70 hours of flight tests as well as 200 take-offs and landings. It is in any case sufficient for the Slovak civil aviation authorities, which have followed the standards of the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), to issue the certificate of airworthiness for this test model. He had already, last May, made a 35-minute flight between the airports of Nitra and Bratislava, before the pilot folded the wings and returned to his garage.
Fewer roads, more airports
At first glance, the promise is enticing: three minutes to go from the “car” format (two seats, the wingspan of a utility vehicle) to the “airplane” configuration with propeller propulsion, a single 160 horsepower BMW engine running on conventional fuels at the pump, and the possibility of climbing to 18,000 feet (just under 6,000 m) for flights lasting several hours. The final version will also adopt another 300 horsepower engine and promises a range of around 1,000 kilometres. This won’t be ready until at least next year, and certificates… take time.
The fact remains that ultimately, behind the wonder of seeing a flying car worthy of certain cartoons, future users will have to go through an imposing set of constraints to take their AirCar (well, if it one day has its license in Europe and the authorizations road/air).
AirCar crit sticker
First of all, do not expect to take off from your garden, you will necessarily need a runway, therefore an aerodrome. Certainly, there are many in France, but it is not enough to arrive at the end of the runway at the exit of the motorway to take off.
Pilots will also need a Private Pilot License (PPL) suitable for an aircraft, as the AirCar does not fit into the ULM category. They will also have to have flight authorizations, and may possibly take a passenger. And obviously, it gets tougher if you plan to cross a border.
Autonomy, it is interesting… But don’t forget that your racing car will consume more than a classic plane, because it will carry a lot of unnecessary things for a plane. As a car, the AirCar will be the size of a van, since you have to store its wings and propeller motor somewhere. Finally, do not skimp on revisions or inspections. Indeed, it will be a question of keeping a car at home that meets aviation standards. Last point, Klein has not yet revealed the amount of the invoice for the purchase, but perhaps it is better to buy a coupé and a subscription to a flying club…
Still, all of this is very down to earth… in a time when you can fly in a flying car!
Source:
CNN Business
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