People have been talking about flying cars probably even before watching animated series The Jetsons, and then the Transformers movies showed us cars turning into large robots. Today, that once fictional idea has become reality as a prototype flying AirCar has just completed a successful 35 minute flight from Nitra to Bratislava in Slovakia.
Developed by Klein Vision, the AirCar prototype took two years to build and cost “less than 2m euros” (AED 8.7 million) in investment. Professor Stefan Klein, the vehicles creator drove it down the runway, took off into the air and landed in the town of Bratislava as reporters were watching. Klein had described the experience as “normal” and “very pleasant”.
Given that they already have the AirPods, the AirTags, surprisingly this AirCar wasn’t created by Apple. Knowing how they love their exclusive gadgets, it would probably have its own Apple fuel tank which only fits an Apple fuel nozzle, and what would it run on? Apple Juice.
Professor Stefan Klein claimed that it could fly about 1,000km (600 miles) up to a height of 2,500m (8,200ft). Powered by a BMW engine, it runs on regular car petrol and its cruising speed while airborne is 170km per hour. It is capable of carrying two people with a combined weight limit of 200KG (441lbs).
It takes two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from car into aircraft and its wings fold down along the sides of the car when it transforms back into car mode. So far it has spent up to 40 hours total in the air.
According to Klein Vision investor and advisor Anton Rajac, if the company was able to acquire a small percentage of global airline or taxi sales, it would be hugely successful.
“There are 40,000 orders of aircraft in the United States alone and if we convert 5 percent of those, to change the aircraft for the flying car – we could have a huge market.”
Back in 2019, consultant company Morgan Stanley had estimated that a flying car sector could be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040.
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