Rahul Somvanshi
A Chinese company has acquired the technology and exclusive manufacturing and usage rights for the Aircar, a flying car developed in Europe. Reportedly, the Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company, based in Cangzhou, China, has acquired the technology behind the Aircar.
Powered by a BMW engine and operable with standard car fuel, the Aircar made headlines in 2021 when it completed a 35-minute flight between two Slovak airports. Developed by the Slovak company Klein Vision, the vehicle uses conventional runways.
According to Anton Zajac, co-founder of Klein Vision, following a previous acquisition of another Slovak aircraft manufacturer, the Chinese company has built its own airport and flight school.
The current Aircar is the fifth generation, with company founder and chief designer Stefan Klein working on flying cars since the early 1990s. He introduced the third generation, then known as Aeromobil, in 2014. Klein survived a crash during a test flight of the Aeromobil the following year with minimal injuries.
This vehicle can transform from a car to an airplane in just over two minutes.This vehicle successfully flew a 90-kilometer distance from Bratislava to Klein Vision’s headquarters in 2021 in 35 minutes. Powered by a 160-horsepower engine and using regular gasoline, the Aircar needs at least a 300-meter runway for takeoff and landing, differentiating it from vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) taxis like Germany’s Volocopter.
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After receiving a certificate from the Slovak aviation authority in early 2022, necessary for general flight approval, there was little news about the Aircar. The requirement for drivers to have a pilot’s license may be a complicating factor.
The Aircar weighs 1,100 kg and can carry a payload of 200 kg. It is powered by a 160-horsepower, 1.6-liter BMW engine that drives a rear propeller in flight mode.
The Aircar can reach a maximum speed of 190 km/h and an altitude of 2,500 meters. It requires a runway of about 300 meters for takeoff.
As, the Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company from China has secured the Aircar technology, the details of the deal still remain undisclosed. The flying cars are to be deployed in a specific region of China, with the company based in Cangzhou, Hebei province.
China is actively supporting alternative aviation solutions, as seen with Ehang obtaining a license for electric flying taxis and Autoflight’s successful test flight between Shenzhen and Zhuhai, covering the distance in 20 minutes without passengers on board.
Meanwhile, in Germany, despite financial constraints and risks, there’s a proposal for the government to invest 150 million euros in the Volocopter flying taxi startup, potentially starting commercial flights by the end of 2024.
