A Slovakian startup company, Klein Vision, has achieved its first airworthiness certification for its flying car, AirCar.
The Slovak Transportation Authority (CAA) awarded the certification after more than 70 test flight hours and 200 takeoffs and landings compatible with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, the company said in a statement Monday. The futuristic flying car can transform between airworthy and street legal within two minutes.
“AirCar certification opens the door for mass production of very efficient flying cars. It is official and the final confirmation of our ability to change mid-distance travel forever,” said Klein Vision CEO Stefan Klein.
Eight specialists at Klein Vision put in more than 100,000 man hours to design, model, and test the two-seat vehicle. According to Klein Vision, AirCar will eventually reach speeds over 300 km/h (162 knots) with a range of 1,000 km (540 nm). Its CEO also served as the AirCar’s sole test pilot.
“Professor Stefan Klein is the world leader in the development of user-friendly flying cars. His latest (fifth) version is the pinnacle achievement in the new category of flying cars,” said Branko Sarh, Boeing senior technical fellow. “The automated transition from road vehicle into an air vehicle and vice versa, deploying/retracting wings and tail is not only the result of pioneering enthusiasm, innovative spirit and courage; it is an outcome of excellent engineering and professional knowledge.”
The AirCar is powered by a 1.6L BMW engine, but the company has already completed tests of an upgraded ADEPT Airmotive aviation engine, expected to be lighter and more powerful. According to the company, the flight tests involved a full range of flight and performance maneuvers, and the vehicle can conduct takeoff and landing procedures without pilot input.
“[The] Transportation Authority carefully monitored all stages of unique AirCar development from its start in 2017. [Transportation] safety is our highest priority. AirCar combines top innovations with safety measures in line with [European Aviation Safety Agency] standards. It defines a new category of a sports car and a reliable aircraft. Its certification was both a challenging and fascinating task,” said René Molnár, the director of the Transport Authority of Slovakia.
After the planned upgrades, Klein Vision expects its next production model to be certificated in 12 months.
