Klein Vision Company in Slovakia completed the world’s first passenger flight using a vehicle that can move on the road and in the air.
Klein Vision reaches an important milestone with the AirCar model. The car carried a passenger, French musician Jean-Michel Jarre. Testing was held on an airport runway in Slovakia. In the video shared by the company, the winged sports car runs along the runway with four wheels and then suddenly flies higher. A few minutes later, the vehicle landed safely with Jaree and the pilot at the wheel.
In 2021, AirCar completed its first inter-city flight, during which the car conducted a 15-minute flight between Nitra and Bratislava international airports in Slovakia. AirCar received its airworthiness license in January 2022. Klein Vision Company said this prototype has spent 130 flight hours with 520 takeoffs and landings at many different international airports.
AirCar consists of many functional parts designed to switch between moving on the ground and in the air. The vehicle’s aerodynamic body not only allows passengers to sit comfortably but also enhances lifting performance during flight. In vehicle mode, the vehicle uses a flow barrier to create downforce.
Advanced equipment on the vehicle includes a retractable wing, a foldable tail surface, and a parachute opening system. The foldable tail surface plays a key role in improving longitudinal stability and takeoff performance, just like a traditional aircraft. When in vehicle mode, the retracted tail section contributes to its smaller dimensions, ensuring maneuverability in urban environments. In the future, the company will develop interior compartments and more vehicle models including 3 and 4-seat versions, dual engines and amphibians.
At the prototype stage, the AirCar used a 160 horsepower BMW engine with fixed pitch propellers and a ballistic parachute for enhanced safety. Klein Vision shares the two-seat version weighs about 1,100 kg and has a lifting capacity of 200 kg. During the test, the AirCar prototype flew to an altitude of 2,500 m and a speed of 190 km/h. In future versions of AirCar, Klein Vision will test the advanced ADEPT aviation engine, famous for its strong, ultra-light and fuel-efficient design. The company has completed the preliminary design and technical evaluation of a single-seat version using variable pitch propellers, expected to reach speeds of over 300 km/h with a range of 1,000 km.
Previously, in June 2023, the ‘Model A’ flying car developed by California-based Alef Aeronautics company was granted a special airworthiness license from the US Federal Aviation Administration. This is the first vehicle officially approved to fly by the US government.