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A Slovakian company has achieved a highly publicized flight, complete with video footage of a flying car doing its thing. It ultimately landed in the capital city of Bratislava and then proceeded to drive to the city center.
The Klein Vision AirCar is a genuine flying car, unlike many vehicles that are merely labeled as such but don’t truly fulfill the flying car concept. Driven by a 160 hp BMW engine, this plane features a single fixed pitch pusher propeller.
The company claimed that the flight shaved 35 minutes off the normal driving time from the takeoff airport to the city. However, it landed at Bratislava International Airport, and it’s not clear why a regular airplane couldn’t have made the same flight, also presumably saving 35 minutes in the commute.
Nonetheless, the AirCar appears to fly quite well, despite having a nose-high deck angle during cruising. And it seems to drive well too, although we’re still uncertain why a rental car or a loaner vehicle at the airport wouldn’t be just as good! In fact, it’s way better. But it is indeed a flying car.
Whatever your thoughts on flying cars may be, undeniably, the most captivating aspect by far is the way it effortlessly transforms from a plane to a car and back again, at the touch of a switch. The process of folding and tucking wings and the tail in a manner that would even impress Michael Bay (for those who aren’t familiar with Michael Bay, he directed the first five Transformers films, which, according to the internet, have grossed an astonishing $4.84 billion at the box office, with a B!).
The Klein Vision AirCar is a remarkable feat of engineering, demonstrating the potential of personal air transportation. While there may be some questions about its practicality and widespread adoption, it certainly grabs the attention and imagination. Flying cars have long been a dream of many, and this development brings us one step closer to that reality. Whether they become a common sight on our roads and skies remains to be seen, but the progress made in this area is exciting nonetheless. With continued innovation and development, the future of aviation and transportation may indeed hold more surprises in store, including the widespread use of flying cars.
