You no longer have to dream of flying cars now that a number of start-ups and aerospace firms are unveiling personal aircraft to fly you around town this year. Slovakia-based AeroMobil has already started taking pre-orders for its 500-unit flying car. Kitty Hawk, the flying car company financed by Google founder Larry Page, unveiled the first video of its prototype aircraft set to sell later this year. The government of Dubai wants to offer rides in flying taxis from EHang beginning this July.
So what do you need to know about these flying cars? We’ve rounded up the important information that you can’t miss.
AeroMobil’s flying car is ahead of full anticipated production. Users can drive it up to 160 km/h (99 mph) on the road and pull into an airport to convert it into a plane in less than three minutes with the touch of a button. You will need a pilot’s license if you intend to fly the vehicle.
During the conversion process, the wings fold out, the front wheels tuck into the chassis, and a pitch pusher folds out of the back. A custom 2.0-liter turbo engine switches 300 horsepower between the front wheels and the pusher prop via a modified transmission.
The company said the machine has a 700-km (435-mi) range on the ground and a 750-km (466-mi) cruise range when in the air on a 90-liter (23.8-gal) tank of 95 RON fuel. Airborne cruise speed averages at 259 km/h (161 mph) with the ability to carry a maximum load of 240 kg (529 lbs), which is enough for two average-sized adults and luggage.
On the other hand, the Kitty Hawk Flyer is an “all-electric aircraft” designed to fly over water without requiring a pilot’s license to operate. The company promises that people can learn to fly the Flyer “in minutes.” The device is an open-seated, 220-pound contraption with room for one individual, powered by eight battery propellers that are about as loud as a speedboat.
During the Flyer’s test flight, Aerospace Engineer Cameron Robertson used two joystick-like controls to move the vehicle in the air above Clear Lake in Northern California. The flight was 15 feet above the water, circled over the lake approximately 20 to 30 yards from the shore, and after five minutes, Robertson steered it back to a floating landing pad at the edge of a dock.
According to FAA regulations, the Flyer is an Ultralight aircraft, which is why no pilot’s license is required, and it’s intended for recreational flying in uncongested areas. By testing above open water, the company added a layer of safety but did note that the final commercial product will look significantly different than the prototype in the video and “be far quieter.”
Kitty Hawk has not released a retail price yet for the vehicle, and there are no plans to ship the vehicle outside of the U.S. However, the company is luring in enthusiastic pilots with a $100 three-year membership that places them on a waiting list and offers company-branded gear and exclusive access to a flight simulator and company events. Additionally, members will receive a $2,000 discount off of the initial retail price.
Comparatively, EHang, a Chinese startup, promised to begin operating a flying autonomous taxi (deemed the EHang 184) in Dubai by this July, just two years after unveiling it at CES 2016. The 500-pound device has eight rotors, can carry up to a 220-pound person, reaches altitudes ranging between 1,000 and 11,500 feet, and flies for up to 40 miles on a single two-hour charge.
It can fly a person to any Google Map position with the passenger simply commanding “take off” and “land” on the Microsoft Surface that serves as its console. If any problems occur while the drone is in flight, EHang ensures that human operators housed in command centers can override the controls and safely land the aircraft.
So whether you’re in Dubai looking for a taxi to avoid the ground traffic or you’re looking to purchase your own flying car, the near future looks promising.
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