KleinVision’s AirCar, the brainchild of Professor Stefan Klein, is a technological marvel, effortlessly transforming from an automobile to a flight-ready aircraft in a matter of minutes. This versatile vehicle has proven its capabilities through more than 200 successful takeoffs and landings, earning its flight certification in 2022. It holds the record for completing the first intercity flight in 2021, further solidifying its place in aviation history. According to KleinVision’s co-founder Anton Zajac, the AirCar is expected to be ready for commercialization within the next year. The vehicle is powered by a 1.6 liter BMW engine, although Zajac anticipates the transition to battery power as technology advances. The AirCar boasts an impressive performance, reaching speeds of up to 120 mph at altitudes of 8,000 feet.
While a driver’s license is a prerequisite for operating the AirCar, aspiring pilots must also complete a specialized two-to-three month flying course, as reported by Sky News. The United States has also witnessed significant progress in flying car development, with Alef Aeronautics, a Silicon Valley-based startup backed by SpaceX, announcing a remarkable achievement last month. The company secured nearly 3,000 pre-orders for its Model A flying car, amassing over $850 million in revenue. This two-seat, 850-pound vehicle, unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 2022, is an eVTOL (electrical vertical takeoff and landing) capable of reaching speeds of 110 miles per hour in the air and 35 miles per hour on the ground. Alef Aeronautics has obtained air travel approval from the Federal Aviation Administration in designated areas but awaits clearance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for road use.
The Federal Aviation Administration released a comprehensive report in 2022 entitled “Concept of Operations: Urban Air Mobility,” envisioning a future where “air taxis” operate within designated corridors connecting vertiports in city centers and airports. This vision brings us closer to a world where flying cars are not merely a futuristic concept but a tangible reality, revolutionizing transportation as we know it.
