Flying cars have been a popular topic of discussion for decades. Way
back in 1940, Henry Ford said, “Mark my words: A combination airplane
and motorcar is coming.”
One such attempt was made at this direction in 1973 by Advanced
Vehicle Engineers, a company focused on bringing a flying car to market.
The company built its prototype by fusing the rear end of a Cessna
Skymaster airplane with a Ford Pinto. The tail section was designed to
be attached and detached from the car. Unfortunately, the aeronautical
engineer who came up with the invention and his pilot were both killed
when they went on a test flight.
Slovakian company Aeromobil has been working to make the dream of a
flying car come true over the last 20 years. Now, the company is
celebrating a monumental victory. Its ‘Aeromobil 2.5’ aircraft just flew
for the first time. Aeromobil 2.5 is a propeller-driven aircraft that
also functions as an automobile.
It might not be the world’s first flying car, after
Massachusetts-based startup Terrafugia successfully tested its
hybrid-electric flying car ‘TF-X’ earlier this year. But it is certainly
the prettiest road-able aircraft with many exciting features. As per
the saying in flying, “If it looks good, it will fly well.”
Aeromobil 2.5 combines the performance of a sports car with the
qualities of a light aircraft. It can fit into any standard parking
space and can be fueled at any gas station. It can adapt to road traffic
and as a plane it can take off or land at any airport.
It runs on a rear facing 100 hp Rotax 912 engine with in-flight top
speed of 124 mph and a range of 430 miles. It has a 27 foot wingspan;
the wings fold and unfold with a touch of a button from the cockpit. The
vehicle weighs about 980 pounds. In comparison, a Ford Fiesta is over
2,200 pounds.
As of now, there is no indication of when a production version of
this flying car might be available … only the future will tell how it
takes wing!
