#FutureIsHere: BMW-powered 'flying car' completes its first-ever inter-city flight
What's the story
Slovakian company Klein Vision's dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle, called AirCar, has completed its first-ever inter-city flight.
The vehicle was driven by inventor Professor Stefan Klein and co-founder Anton Zajac. It completed a 35-minute journey from Nitra to Bratislava and marked its 142nd successful landing.
It has two test models - Prototype 1 and Prototype 2 - but the production version is yet to be revealed.
Exteriors
The vehicle has retractable wings and a transparent roof
The AirCar has a futuristic design, featuring deployable/retractable wings and tail, a transparent roof, a hood with vents, sleek headlights, and four designer wheels with covers on them.
The hybrid vehicle can transform from a car into an airplane in less than three minutes. It can drive like a regular car but requires a runway to take off and land.
Information
It offers two seats and a racing-type steering wheel
The AirCar has a dual-tone 2-seater cabin featuring a partition that divides the driver and passenger areas. It also packs a host of equipment seen on airplanes, a large screen for driver assistance, and a rectangular, 4-spoke, racing-type steering wheel.
Performance
The Prototype 2 should deliver a range of 1,000km
The Prototype 1 runs on a 160hp BMW engine and has a fixed-propeller and ballistic parachute. It has flown up to 2,500 meters and recorded a maximum cruising speed of 190km/h.
The Prototype 2, with a variable pitch propeller, has an M1 road permit and is fueled by a 300hp engine. It is expected to have a speed of 300km/h and a 1,000km range.
Information
AirCar prototype required an investment of Rs. 18 crore
As per Klein Vision, the AirCar prototype took two years to develop and required an investment of less than €2 million (around Rs. 17.7 crore). However, the final production version of the vehicle is yet to be announced.