Aeromobil’s Flying Car Is a Sci-fi Dream Getting Closer to Reality
Since the invention of the automobile and powered flight in the early 1900s, the idea of a flying car has inspired dreams in tech enthusiasts, gear heads, and those who just wish to beat traffic. And although many inventors have tried their hand at creating this mythical machine, Aeromobil may be one of the first to deliver the real deal.
A Slovakian company founded by Stefan Klein and Juraj Vaculik almost 25 years ago, Aeromobil has gone through multiple prototypes to get to the 3.0 version they are currently showcasing. Most recently, the Aeromobil was on display at the Pioneers Festival last month in Vienna. Though the Aeromobil is currently not offered for sale, it continues to reach important milestones to make it accessible for a wide variety of potential customers.
So what makes a good flying car?
First, as a car, it should be able to use the existing infrastructure. You should be able to use it just as you would a standard automobile. For that purpose, the Aeromobil employs a Rotax 912 engine that gets about 30 mpg using regular gasoline. One tank of gas gives it a driving range of over 500 miles, and it can reach speeds over 100 mph.
The dimensions of the Aeromobil – at 7.3 feet wide and 19.7 feet long – put it in the range of pickup trucks (for instance, the Ford F150 measures 8.1 feet wide and 20.3 feet long). This means that it can be driven safely on existing roads and parked in standard spaces and garages. And just like most supercars, the Aeromobil only has 2 seats and not much in the way of storage space.