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Video: The Coolest Flying Car Yet

Aeromobil 2.5 makes maiden flight.

Most prototype flying cars lack two key ingredients needed for success: They don’t look very good, and they fly even worse.

The new Aeromobil 2.5 out of Slovakia at least has overcome one of these shortcomings. From certain angles, the styling of this flying sports car is simply stunning. Unfortunately, based on the video of its recent maiden flight, it would seem that stability in the air continues to be a major challenge for roadable aircraft.

Aeromobil’s founders say their flying car is designed to fit in a normal parking space and fill up at any gas station. Fitted with a rear-facing 100 hp Rotax 912 engine, the Aeromobil 2.5 is predicted to have a top speed in flight of 107 knots and a range of 375 nm. It’s constructed of a steel framework with a carbon-fiber coating.

The wings fold and unfold with the touch of a button from the cockpit, similar to the design of the Terrafugia Transition, a flying car that doesn’t look nearly as good as the Aeromobil concept, but appears to have similar controllability issues in flight.

Stefan Klein, co-founder of Aeromobil, has worked as a designer for Audi, Volkswagen and BMW, as well as in aviation. His partner, co-founder Juraj Vaculik, comes from the advertising world. The pair is trying to attract investors to get their flying car into production.

Based on the short video of the Aeromobil 2.5’s first flight in Slovakia recently, they may need to reconsider certain aspects of their design. The prototype seems to do fine on the highway, but once its wings unfold and it starts down the runway, problems arise. The weird music that accompanies the flight video makes the whole undertaking seem bizarre.

But we have to admit, this is a flying car with generally attractive styling. If the developers can figure out how to make it fly as good as it looks, they just might be onto something.

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