It wasn’t too far back in time when Roger Moore flew his sci-fi inspired car-plane in Ian Fleming’s Octopussy, Little did we know back then that the concept would turn into reality so soon. It’s Tuesday, and we aren’t hungover anymore. The flying car is inching closer to reality as you read this article and we might see a few examples in real life over the coming years. In fact, two models of flying cars have been successfully tested already! Flying cars are getting closer to reality faster than anyone would have anticipated. We got our hands on YouTube videos of two such near production ready prototypes completing their test runs/flights.
The first car among the two is the Carl Dietrich designed Terrafugia Transition. Nearly six years into development, the flight ready prototype of this car was introduced in July 2013. And this flying car is already quite famous among the potential audience as more than 100 people have paid deposits of USD 10,000 to book the vehicle. Company claims that the Transition will be able to travel at 70 miles per hour on roads. In air, the top speed will stand at 100 miles per hour. Dietrich also says that the Transition can be parked on the street or in typical suburban garage and runs on regular unleaded gas, which is cheaper and cleaner than aviation fuel and available at the local gas station.
The second flying car nearing production is the AeroMobil 3.0. The advanced prototype of the flying roadster AeroMobil 3.0 was unveiled in Vienna during the Pioneers Festival. A working prototype of the flying car has now been finalized and is currently being tested since October 2014. Company claims that the AeroMobil 3.0 prototype is very close to the final product. It also contains all the main features that will be incorporated into the final product, such as avionics equipment, autopilot and an advanced parachute deployment system. It uses standard gasoline, and can therefore be fuelled at a regular gas stations.
These two are the closest prototypes to the flying car reality and we already love the current developments. Of the two, we believe that the AeroMobil 3.0 is a more practical product given the fact that the wings fold towards the rear end of the car rather than folding up like the Transition which blocks the side view. In terms of design and interior functions too, we feel that the AeroMobil 3.0 has a slight edge over the Transition. In the end, however, it would be the versatility, safety and pricing of the two models that will decide their respective fates.
Which one of the two do you like better? If you had the money, and if the two car-planes were available off the shelf, which one would you rather buy? Do let us know.