As Terrafugia looks to make headlines with the debut of its Transition roadable aircraft at the upcoming New York International Auto Show, a Dutch company with an intriguing flying car is making news of its own a continent away. Startup manufacturer PAL-V Europe flew its roadable gyrocopter for the first time last week, and in the process proved there’s more than one way to merge travel by street and sky.
PAL-V stands for Personal Land and Air Vehicle, and that’s exactly what this machine is. On the road, it resembles a three-wheeled motorcycle, with a unique tilting suspension system that makes it surprisingly agile in the corners. Once stopped, the PAL-V’s rotor and rear-facing propeller quickly unfold and the craft is ready to take to the air, flying much like a conventional gyrocopter.
