Klein Vision AirCar: a True Flying Car in Slovakia
This page is translated from the original post "Klein Vision AirCar : une véritable voiture volante en Slovaquie" in French.
- 30/01/2022 10:00
Following the Aeromobil prototypes, Klein Vision’s Aircar has been officially certified in Slovakia as a flying car.
This is neither a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle nor an autonomous electric craft, but a flying car. This machine resembles an airplane more than a car, we agree. Normal, this vehicle, developed since 2017, is the idea of Stefan Klein, the inventor of Aeromobil, a project he left in 2016.
A BMW engine to take to the skies
The vehicle looks very much like its Slovak cousin. Its special feature is that it can transform, folding its wings in just 3 minutes. In car mode, the AirCar can therefore legally use the roads.
It is powered by a 1.6-liter BMW gasoline engine with 140 horsepower. Weighing 1,100 kg and limited to two seats, it can reach 115 km/h for takeoff over a distance of 300 meters. The AirCar can fly up to 185 km/h and drive at 165 km/h. Its flying range is 1,000 kilometers, consuming 18 liters per hour.
The company assures that the flying car is not difficult to operate. According to them, “the stability and handling of the AirCar are accessible to any pilot”. “With the AirCar, you arrive at your destination without the hassle of being transported to the airport and going through security” explains co-founder Anton Zajac, “you can drive on golf courses, to the office, shopping center, hotel, or park and park in a normal parking space.”
Already well advanced thanks to experience with Aeromobil, it only remained for it to obtain proper certification.
A future 300-horsepower AirCar version
Founder, co-creator, and test pilot Stefan Klein completed the first flight in 2020. In June 2021, he made two takeoffs, flights, and landings at the Piestany airport (Slovakia). Since then, 200 flights have been completed. Finally, in January 2022, Slovak authorities granted Klein Vision the official certification for AirCar to operate officially.
Klein Vision is now developing a new version with a 300-horsepower engine. It will allow the AirCar to fly at 300 km/h, while future versions with four seats, twin engines, and amphibious capabilities are under consideration.
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