Technology at its best, In a groundbreaking achievement for aviation and automotive technology, the AirCar, developed by KleinVision, successfully undertook its first flight carrying a passenger.
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Jean-Michel Jarre, a renowned 75-year-old French electronic music composer, participated in the historic flight in Slovakia, signaling a major milestone for the Slovakian-made hybrid vehicle.
Stefan Klein, the brains behind the AirCar, and co-founder Anton Zajac have been at the forefront of this innovation, having received approval in 2022 for the AirCar’s flight. The approval came after the vehicle demonstrated its capabilities through more than 200 successful takeoffs and landings, building on its achievement as the first flying car to complete an intercity flight in the previous year.
Equipped with a 1.6L BMW engine, the AirCar aims for a shift towards electric power in the future. It reached impressive speeds of up to 120 mph and heights of 8,000 feet during testing phases.
“As soon as the technology improves, we will simply run on batteries,” Mr. Zajac told Sky News. “We are bridging the gap between the road and the sky, giving cars the freedom they symbolized 50 years ago.”
Looking ahead, the Slovakian government’s Future of Flight action plan envisions the integration of flying taxis by 2030, with Mr. Zajac optimistic about the AirCar hitting the market within a year. However, operation of the vehicle requires a dual certification involving both a driver’s license and a pilot’s license, plus a specialized flying course lasting two to three months.