LONDON: A two-seater flying car capable of taking flight from any clear road could go on sale as early as 2017.
The Czech-built vehicle can hit over 160 kph on the ground and flies at 200kph on twin propellers, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
The car can land on just 150 feet of grass and fly for up to 690 kilometres, can be used in road traffic anywhere in Europe and needs just 750 feet of clear road to take off.
Manufacturers hope the vehicle will “change personal transport on a global scale.”
“We believe that by 2017 we’ll be able to launch this to the market,” said Juraj Vaculik, CEO of Slovakian company Aeromobil.
“We don’t even need airports. If something like a flying Uber and flying Lyft will be on the market, I think many users will find this a very efficient way to move,” Vaculik said.
The company is in near-final prototype stage and unlike other rivals meets the criteria both for planes and road vehicles in Europe, ‘Metro.co.uk’ reported.
The car is equipped with an autopilot and a parachute for emergencies, and manufacturers hope it will herald a new age of “door to door” transportation.
The working model was designed and built in just 10 months.
Aeromobil also has toughened suspension to enable the car to take off from relatively rough terrain such as paved streets or parklands.
The company is yet to confirm a price tag or release date for the vehicle.-Bernama