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FLYING CARS MIGHT not be science fiction for long.
Stefan Klein and Juraj Vaculik, cofounders of a company Slovakian startup called AeroMobil, have created a beautiful prototype that has already been on several successful test flights.
Business Insider touched base with the pair to hear more about their amazing vehicle.
Klein first started dreaming up designs more than 20 years ago. Here’s one of his sketches from the early 1990s.
Fast forward almost 25 years, and here’s the team with the AeroMobil 3.0.
“To marry the car and the airplane is an interesting engineering and design challenge,” Klein told Business Insider.
“Approaching this challenge just by adding wings to the car or modifying the airplane to fit the road was not an option for us.”
The AeroMobil 3.0 is designed for both functionality and aesthetics.
Although people call AeroMobil 3.0 a “multi-modal vehicle” or a “flying car,” the cofounders prefer to think of their creation as being in a whole new category.
In the same way that a motorcycle isn’t simply a two-wheeled car or a bicycle with an engine, cofounder Juraj Vaculik explains, the AeroMobil 3.0 is a completely new beast.
When in flight mode, the vehicle has retractable wings and a back propeller.
In flight, it can reach 124 miles per hour and fly for 430 miles with a full tank of gas.
With its wings folded back, the AeroMobil is designed to drive on regular roads.
Owners could park it in normal parking spots and fill up its petrol at normal petrol stations. It gets 29 miles per gallon.
He says the team wants to bring its “flying roadster” to market in the next two or three years.
The vehicle seats two people.
And is equipped with all the dashboards needed for flight.
The first model of the AeroMobil to hit the market will be very high-end, produced in a limited edition.
But the team wants its second product to be priced alongside other luxury cars.
"And let me confess, for the author/designer there are two moments of fascination: first, to see the object from the outside, to perceive its design, lines, shape, the 'physical attractiveness,'" Klein says.
"And the second, to see the surroundings from inside of the car/plane, to become a part of the created object – that is probably the strongest moment."
That's right: The AeroMobil 3 has gone on several successful test flights.
It needs about 200 meters for take-offs and landings.
The AeroMobil team sees the vehicle eventually making traffic more efficient by allowing people to use the air for journeys up to 500 miles.
"Our intention is to change the world of personal travel," Klein says.
"We want to bring back the excitement which we once had when we drove cars or flew airplanes."
Here's the company's full ad.
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Word of warning re: inspections. There are a number of characters of a certain nature and background travelling around the country posing as inspectors to gain entry to your property. Beware and always ask for I.D before allowing anyone entry.
Not as dodgy as the bully hogan. He’s overdue national inspection!
Better still Jim don’t allow anyone to enter regardless of what I.D. They show you.
Rob
I really thought we were beginning to grow up as a Nation and you the go and prove me wrong!
Poor old Richard, doesn’t like anyone speaking about Himmler Hogan with contempt. The truth hurts, I suppose!
I don’t care. I’m still not paying it. That man will NOT charge me for having a s#%*t
Derek
I’m sure you don’t defecate often enough. This usually leads straight to the expression that you’re full of it!
do you have free sewage dickie dorgeds ……… soddy my keyboadr is wonky
He’s not trying to.
He charging to make sure the sh1t you have doesn’t pollute everyone else.
Ill be putting a coin slot on the jacks door.
They can inspect my system, no problem but I’m not paying them 50 quid to do it, given that Offaly county council already made me install a 5000 euro system
I think the fee was actually €5.
@ Kevin. Ur right I WAS actually five at one stage and back to 50 now but I don’t see why I should pay anything at all.
they approved it they’re responsible !
The argument for older systems would have some validity if the fish were belly up , but that ain’t happening so their pudding is tasteless !
There is a subtle justice in that whenever people now see Phil Hogan, they immediately think of human excrement…
maybe he should hire a new press secretary …his public image has paled somewhat recently …maybe he needs a foreign holiday ….spike island’s sewage system needs inspecting ….
phil hogan as a minister is really not so much of a has-been, but more of definite won’t be
Surely Phil Hogan as a minister can only be described as a still is…
Can an inspector just walk into you’re property if they are not invited,sounds like tresspass to me.no
It is trespassing. Simple solution is to clearly mark the border between private and public land and hang a no trespass sign.
Whos going to inspect hogan
Oh it’s him again, keep wondering when he’ll pop up, hes getting as bad as that other yok from FF
About time ,god knows its been going on long enough.
Hurry up with the inspections so we can find out the facts about whether they are polluting or not, don’t think I can listen to much more commentary on the subject!
Exactly, 12k per day fine cause we grassed ourselves up, without knowing if it was true or not. IDIOTS
there are idiots and then there are “smart boy idiots” …the latter are like the smile on a clown ….what is the real plan boys ? it’s like the banking ..it’s what they are not telling you that you have to worry about …..
Luckily for me I don’t care because I have just set up a dummy company called………………… “universal bond investments hidden vehicle that the fools don’t know about” ………………….and I’m going to buy those new bonds that come out next year and ye think I’m an idiot!
Now will I set it up in Jersey or the isle of man or gibraltar or UGANDA!…DECISIONS , DECISIONS !
It’s pretty simple really. Test the rivers and streams in an area. If one comes up with above normal levels then there is a problem somewhere. Then test the septic tanks above the word source for potential contamination.
If there is no contamination in the water then no.need to check septic tanks.
The EPA already check the rivers and.streams anyway
Correct ! the term innocent until proven guilty is one of the cornerstones of our legal system! .
Anyway Mr. Hogan there’s no need to inspect my system I will be posting you a bottle of the contents and a picture of said system attached , you can inspect that to your heart’s content !
if you comply…”you have nothing to fear” we all get the underlying threat..hogan you should hang. your head in shame..with your thinly held threats…
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