A flying car has completed its first inner-city test flight from Slovakia’s international airport in Nitra to the country’s capital Bratislava.

Klein Vision’s AirCar, a dual-mode car-aircraft vehicle, made the 35-minute flight earlier this week. The flight represented the 142nd successful landing at Bratislava.

After landing, the vehicle was transformed into a sports car and driven by its inventor professor Stefan Klein and co-founder Anton Zajac.

“The automated transition from road vehicle into an air vehicle and vice versa, deploying/retracting wings and tail is not only the result of pioneering enthusiasm, innovative spirit and courage; it is an outcome of excellent engineering and professional knowledge,” said Dr. Branko Sarh, Boeing Co. senior technical fellow.

The AirCar Prototype 1 is equipped with a 160HP BMW engine with fixed-propeller and a ballistic parachute.

Under the supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority, the AirCar has completed over 40 hours of test flights, including steep 45 degree turns and stability and maneuverability testing.

AirCar Prototype 1 has flown at 8200 ft and reached a maximum cruising speed of 190km/h (103kt).

AirCar Prototype 2, the pre-production model, will be equipped with a 300HP engine and receive the EASA CS-23 aircraft certification with an M1 road permit. With its variable pitch propeller, the Prototype 2 is expected to have a cruise speed of 300km/h (162kt) and range of 1000km (621mi).

“This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles. It opens a new category of transportation and returns the freedom originally attributed to cars back to the individual.” said professor Klein. “AirCar is no longer just a proof of concept; flying at 8,200ft at a speed of 100kt, it has turned science fiction into a reality.” Added Anton Zajac, the co-founder of Klein Vision.

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