A flying car capable of transforming from a road vehicle into an aircraft has been certified for flight in Slovakia, paving the way for mass production.
The Slovak Transport Authority granted an Airworthiness Certificate to AirCar developed by Klein Vision at the end of January, after the vehicle completed over 70 hours of successful test flights.
This transforming car can shift from a sports car to an airplane in under three minutes.
The AirCar, developed by Klein Vision, has received an airworthiness certificate from the Slovak Transport Authority.
Certification was granted after 75 hours of test flights, with over 220 takeoffs and landings performed.
Anton Zajac, co-founder of Klein Vision, stated that a team of 8 has been developing the prototype since 2017, totaling approximately 100,000 hours of work.
AirCar completed its first intercity flight last June, flying from the international airport in Nitra, Slovakia, to the international airport in Bratislava, Slovakia. The flight took a total of 35 minutes.
After arriving, AirCar transformed into a sports car and was driven to downtown Bratislava.
AirCar is not limited to operating at airports. According to Zajac, it can take off and land anywhere as long as the property owner permits it.
The current model has a range of about 600 km, flying at a speed of 225 km/h. According to Zajac, a new version will have a range of approximately 1013 km.
AirCar is equipped with a BMW 1.6L engine and runs on gasoline available anywhere.
The flying car is also equipped with a parachute in case of emergencies or engine failure.
It weighs 1,100 kg and can accommodate two people. Zajac mentioned that the company plans to introduce a three-seater model, as well as a version that can operate on water.
Since AirCar is classified by regulators as an aircraft, a pilot’s license is required to operate it.
According to Zajac, this certification is a “significant milestone”, not only in creating a flying car that meets the regulations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) but also in laying the groundwork for the mass production of such vehicles in the future.
Meeting EASA regulations allows AirCar to fly in any country within the European Union, with local government approval. Zajac stated that the company is also seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.
Depending on factors such as the equipped electronic control systems, AirCar will cost between $500,000 and $1 million. Zajac mentioned that the company has begun taking orders from “selected” customers and expects deliveries to start by the end of 2023.
