HomeEverything ElseAeromobil Flying Car crash lands after driver deploys parachute

Aeromobil Flying Car crash lands after driver deploys parachute

The world’s first flying car, which is expected to go on sale by 2017, has crash landed while on test flight. The driver / pilot at the time of accident was none other than Stefan Klein, co-owner and inventor of the flying car.

Photo – EPA/MIRIAM HOJCUSOVA

The incident took place on 8th May 2015, near Nitra Airport in Slovakia. Aeromobil team, the makers of the flying car, were conducting a routine test flight when due to unknown reasons, it went into a tailspin. This resulted in the flying car going out of control, leaving Stefan with no other option but to deploy the parachute at about 900 feet from the ground.

The safety features on board the flying car not only saved Stafan’s life, but also made sure that he walks out on his own feet. He did complain of minor backpain, due to which he was transported to a local hospital in a ambulance, but he is now out from the hospital.

Photo – EPA/MIRIAM HOJCUSOVA

Aeromobil, a Slovakian company first began working on flying car about 25 years ago, in 1990. Last year, at the 2014 Pioneers Festival in Vienna, the company revealed their most advanced prototype – Prototype 3. It is this Prototype 3 which crashed.

It is not certain whether this incident will affect the commercial launch plans of Aeromobil Flying Car. Below is the official statement given by the company regarding the incident:

Weighing 600 kgs, Aeromobil Flying car is powered by a single Rotax 912 engine generating 100 bhp power. It has a maximum road speed of 160 kmph and a cruising speed of 200 kmph when air-borne. It is 6 metres long, 8.32 meters wide (2.24 metres wide when wings folded during road use). Fuel consumption on road is claimed at 13.33 kmpl, while it consumes 15 litres every hour.

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