Test Pilot Survives Flying Car Crash

Photo: MH/nitra.sme.sk

The AeroMobil 3.0 prototype developed in Slovakia crashed on a test flight on Friday. The pilot and inventor of the flying car, Štefan Klein, suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and was able to exit the cabin by his own strength, according to the _Prague Post. _

The vehicle reportedly entered a spin from which Klein could not recover. He deployed a parachute at an altitude of approximately 900 feet, according to a statement from AeroMobil.

Since the early days of aviation, several companies have tried and failed to develop a viable flying car. While this unfortunate event may mean the end of the AeroMobil program, the company appears to view the incident as just a normal part of testing.

"In the process of developing new vehicles, especially in the prototype phase, the possibility and likelihood of an unexpected situation is a natural part of the testing program," the AeroMobil statement said.

Testing of the current prototype 3.0 and further product development will continue after the replacement of the damaged parts, the statement continued. However, from the looks of the images of the wreckage, it is not a matter of replacing a few parts. It appears that the vehicle would require major reconstruction to fly again.

Get exclusive online content like this delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for our free enewsletter.

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter
By entering your email, you agree to receive communications from FlyingMag.