Klein Vision AirCar

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The Klein Vision AirCar is a prototype two-seat flying car designed by Štefan Klein and made in Slovakia.

Design and development[]

Slovakian designer Professor Štefan Klein began working on flying cars in the late 1980s. Having developed the AeroMobil, he left the company to develop a new idea as the AirCar, and set up Klein Vision with colleague Anton Zajac.[1][2]

The main fuselage of the AirCar doubles as a two-seat road car with four large road wheels. Styled like a sports coupe, it contributes 30-40 per cent of the total lift when in the air. For flight it is fitted with foldout wings and extending tailbooms carrying a high tail. A pusher propeller is permanently installed between the fuselage and tail, and a safety parachute is installed. Construction is primarily a semi-monocoque of carbon fibre composite over a steel subframe. Over 20 programmable servo motors are used to perform the transition between road and air configurations.[3][4] When on the road, the retracted tail surface creates a downforce similar to conventional rear aerofoils.[5]

Power is provided by a 1.6 litre BMW road car engine, running on automotive petrol or gasoline and delivering 104 kilowatts (139 hp).[4]

The prototype AirCar is of comparable length to a Mercedes S-Class saloon, at 5.2 metres (17 ft 1 in), and around 2 cm (1 in) narrower.[3] Overall weight is 1,100 kilograms (2,400 lb).[4]

A second, pre-production prototype is expected to have a monocoque fuselage with a more powerful 300 horsepower (220 kW) engine.[3][6]

Performance[]

The prototype takes off at around 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph), after a run of 300 metres (980 ft).[3] Cruising speed in the air is said to be 170 kilometres per hour (92 kn) Range is estimated as 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), at a height of 8,200 feet (2,500 m). It is said to take two minutes and 15 seconds to transform from car into aircraft.[7]

Operational history[]

The prototype first flew on 22 or 27 October 2020.[8][2]

In June 2021 the prototype AirCar carried out a 35-mile flight between Nitra and Bratislava airports. It has yet to receive flight certification for sales.

See also[]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References[]

  1. ^ Viknesh Vijayenthiran; "Klein Vision's flying car completes first intercity flight", Motor Authority, 1 July 2021. (retrieved 10 July 2021)
  2. ^ a b Anmol Ahuja; From dream to reality: Klein Vision’s “flying car” to glide over traffic woes, stir world, 5 Nov 2020. (retrieved 10 July 2021)
  3. ^ a b c d Jason Ford; AirCar navigates course to viable flying cars, The Engineer, 1st July 2021. (retrieved 10 July 2021)
  4. ^ a b c William Davis; "Klein Vision AirCar: Flying car prototype completes successful flight in Slovakia", Drive News, 2021. (retrieved 9 July 2021)
  5. ^ Dave Calderwood; "The Klein AirCar takes over from AeroMobil", Flyer, 18 August 2020. (retrieved 10 July 2021)
  6. ^ Zoe Kleinman; "Flying car completes test flight between airports", BBC, 30 June 2021. (retrieved 30 June 2021)
  7. ^ Klein Visions AirCar, Citizen Free Press, June 2021. (retrieved 1 July 2021)
  8. ^ Klein Vision vows to have flying car on market next year after first sorties, FlightGlobal, 4 November 2020 (retrieved 30 June 2021).

External links[]

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