Electro pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre became the first person to take off in KleinVision’s flying car, which transforms from a sports car into a plane in just minutes. It is currently powered by a 1.6 liter BMW engine, but that could change as the technology progresses.
Made in Slovakia by Professor Stefan Klein and KleinVision’s co-founder Anton Zajac, the AirCar was approved for flight in 2022 following more than 200 successful takeoffs and landings. The year before, it became the first flying car to complete an intercity flight.
Jarre, who became a cult figure amongst schoolboys across Europe in the 1980s and 90s, said: “One second you speak to the driver, and next, you are up there in the air. An amazing experience.”
Zajac told Sky News, “As soon as the technology improves, we will simply run on batteries.” He added: “We are bridging the gap between the road and the sky, giving cars the freedom they symbolised 50 years ago.”
The Slovakian government announced plans for flying taxis to be a reality by 2030 in its Future of Flight action plan. Zajac hopes the AirCar will hit the market in around a year, but to operate the vehicle, you’ll need both a driver’s license and a pilot’s license. Additionally, you’ll need to undertake a specialized two-to-three-month flying course.
Last month, Tech firm Alef Aeronautics released footage of its own flying car soaring over a busy city, dubbed the “commute of the future”. The vehicle can drive on roads and take off to avoid traffic jams.
