For those looking at the calendar and wondering why we don’t yet have the flying cars sci-fi movies have promised us, an answer may soon be here. A Slovakian company called Klein Vision is looking to change transportation forever with its AirCar, which just passed its flight certification process in its native country.
The vehicle can both drive like a car and fly like a plane, thanks to retractable wings that hide into its body, Transformers style. Truth told, it doesn’t look like a normal car when it’s on the highway, thanks to its rear-mounted stabilizer fins and propeller, which remain visible even in car mode.
But for bragging rights, that’s probably an added bonus: It’s a sports car…that flies.
AirCar has successfully completed 70 hours of flight testing that is compatible with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards — including more than 200 take-offs and landings.
“AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars,” said Professor Stefan Klein, the inventor, leader of the development team and the vehicle’s test pilot. “It is official and the final confirmation of our ability to change mid-distance travel forever.”
Anton Zajac, the project co-founder, noted, “In the early twentieth century, the car was the epitome of freedom. Now, in 2022, AirCar offers a next level of freedom.”