AeroMobil starts taking pre-orders for its ‘first edition’ flying car
If you are wondering it’s 2017, where’s my flying car already? Then this Slovakian company called AeroMobil has the answer for you.
AeroMobil has just unveiled its version of a flying car, a light-framed plane whose wings can fold back, like an insect, and is boosted by a hybrid engine and rear propeller.
Aeromobil’s two-seater is designed to overcome traffic jams, allow faster travel over medium distances, and make travel easier in areas with few roads.
AeroMobil unveiled the final, commercial design for its flying car at the supercar show Top Marques Monaco on Thursday.
“You can use it as a regular car,” said Juraj Vaculik, co-founder and CEO of Aeromobil, at the unveiling in Monaco.
The company has released it’s new model and is currently taking pre-orders for the limited first edition of the flying car. All preorders on the AeroMobil will ship 2020, and the added time will give the company a chance to increase production to meet the demands of building 500 vehicles.
AeroMobil says that it can be transformed for flight within three minutes, and that it should have a range of just under 450 miles as a road car and just over that when cruising at altitude. The flying car’s body is made from high-strength, lightweight carbon fiber.
But the vehicle won’t come cheap; AeroMobil says it will cost between €1.2 million and €1.5 million ($1.3 million and $1.6 million), with deliveries beginning in 2020.
AeroMobil is accepting pre-orders for its flying car, but is only producing 500 units.
AeroMobil CEO Juraj Vaculik said their ultimate goal is to launch a version of the vehicle as part of a shared mobility service in the future.
Eventually, AeroMobil plans to offer a version capable of full autonomy on the ground and in the air, but for now you’ll need a pilot’s license as well as a driver’s license to operate it.
Key Facts about the AeroMobil Flying Car
- Full transformation into flight mode in less than 3 minutes.
- Automotive Range -700km (estimated using NEDC cycle)
- Aerospace Max Cruise Range ~750 km @ 75 % (1 200 m, ISA)
- Fuel Capacity 90 ltr (95 RON Gasoline)
- Direct Drive variable pitch propeller (speed 2 400 rpm)
- Automotive – Top speed 160 kph
- Aerospace – Vs / Vc / VD – 112 / 259 / 360 km/h
- MTOW Take Off Distance ground roll / 50 ft – 397 / 595 m
- Max Take Off Weight – 960 kg (useable load 240 kg)