Dreams Come True. The day has come when cars are ready to lift off the ground and take to the skies. Dutch designers have shown the first production model of a flying machine. What it is, and what opportunities it provides to drivers - in this review.
People have long dreamed of crossing a car and a plane. The first attempts date back to 1917. It was then that the American designer Glenn Curtis tried to create an aircraft that could not only fly, but also ride comfortably on the roads.
Similar attempts were made by engineers Soviet Union who wanted to make a flying tank. But all these attempts failed. Technology has come a long way in recent decades, and perhaps now is the time when cars can finally open their wings.
An ambitious dream was embodied in a new flying car, which was called the Liberty. It was developed by the notorious Dutch company PAL-V. Surely many have already heard about it, because it was the designers of this company who set out to create a flying car a few years ago.
After 10 years of working to achieve its goal, PAL-V shows a car that, according to the developers, is not “another promising model” at all, but a real one. production model. The car from the first batch will cost 600 thousand dollars and another 25 for the right to get it among the first.
Together with the car itself, the company promises 10 lessons on how to drive it, and anywhere in the world! Another option to get a car is to pay only 10 thousand dollars, but wait for the second series. And yes, you will have to pay all the same 600 thousand for the car itself.
As for specifications, then here the Liberty boasts a 100-horsepower engine that allows it to accelerate on the ground up to 160 km / h. Up to 100 km / h the car accelerates in 9 seconds. Some experts are worried about the aerodynamics of the car, opining that at speeds above a hundred, the car will start to shake. For flights, the Liberty uses a different, 200-horsepower engine. The manufacturer claims that the car can fly 400-500 km.
However, one should not hope that the Liberty can take to the skies at any time when the driver needs it. Mode change takes 5-10 minutes. Also, you can't take off anywhere. To do this, you need a solid strip with a length of at least 180 meters for just one lift off the ground.
It is also worth considering that most laws will require that the Liberty take off and land only in specially designed places. And of course, a pilot's license is required to fly such a hybrid.
And recently, the Russian concern Kalashnikov declassified. It's worth seeing.
One of the first models of flying car PAL-V 100 hp engine. With. allows the Liberty to accelerate to 160 km / h. At the same time, in order to dial 100 km / h, the car needs 9 seconds. Fuel consumption 7.6 liters. per 100 km allows a flying car to overcome 1,315 km at one gas station.
The company says the Liberty is a car that flies and an airplane that drives. If you need to take to the skies, the rotor automatically extends from the body. Next, the pilot needs to unfasten the blades and tail, and secure them. This operation takes 5 to 10 minutes. Transformed into an aircraft, Liberty can climb up to 3,500 m. air motor has a capacity of 200 liters. With. The maximum speed in the air is 180 km / h, economical 160, and cruising - 140 km / h. Moving at a speed of 160 km / h, the pilot will be able to save up to 10% of fuel. The maximum flight range is 500 km.
After landing, the blades and tail are dismantled, and the rotor is retracted into the body. In road configuration, the Liberty measures 4m long and 1.7m high. When flying, the dimensions increase to 6.1 and 3.2 m, respectively. The propeller diameter is 10.75 m.
Those wishing to order a three-wheeled hybrid of a car and a helicopter can choose between two modifications. base model called Sport and is offered at a price of 299,000 euros. Future owners of the premium Pioneer Edition (499,000 euros) will be able to order an individual trim and body color. In addition, they will have the priority right to receive their purchase. The first customers are expected to be able to try out their Liberty flying cars by the end of 2018.
The Dutch company PAL-V International B.V. announced the start of accepting orders for the Pal-V Liberty model. As the developer describes it, it is "the world's first certified commercial flying car." In fact, the device had a good dozen predecessors, including those models that were received in different countries Required documents for both flights and road trips. They were even sold in piece quantities. But everyone stopped literally half a step before mass replication.
Takeoff and landing from the path near the house is at the risk and responsibility of the owner, but from the usual airfield strip - easily (with the appropriate permission, of course).
Technically, we have a mixture of a tricycle and a gyroplane. Moreover, the tricycle can lean in turns, and the gyroplane has folding rotor blades (the transformation is partially manual). Than it vehicle different from analogues? It is driven by rear wheels and can legally drive on the roads (vehicle lighting and other necessary elements are present). Airplane power power plant fed to the pusher propeller.
The concept of application does not include taking off right in the middle of a traffic jam from the highway, it is not safe. But drivers with a pilot's license (and without it one cannot become an owner) will be able to get to the airfield right behind the wheel of a Liberty, take off, sit down again on the runway in another city and reach their destination.
The device is driven by a “double propulsion system”. Its power is 100 hp. on the ground and 200 hp in the air. It feeds on motor gasoline (AI-95-98), a mixture of E10 (gasoline with 10% ethanol) or aviation gasoline. In the road incarnation, the car can accelerate to 160 km / h, gain the first hundred in less than 9 seconds, pass at a gas station up to 1315 km. Average consumption- 7.6 l / 100 km.
Vehicle length in road mode is four meters, width - two meters, height - 1.7 m. In flight mode, dimensions: 6.1 m, 2 m and 3.2 m, respectively (main rotor diameter is 10.75 m).
In the sky, Liberty is able to overcome 400-500 km, depending on the load, while there will be a reserve in the tank for 30 minutes of flight, climb to a height of 3.5 km and develop 180 km / h. To take off, you need a distance of only 180 m (330 taking into account the flight over an obstacle 15 m high), and for landing - 30 m. The average fuel consumption is 26 l / h.
Empty, the Pal-V Liberty weighs 664kg and can carry two, plus 20kg of luggage and 100 liters of fuel, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 910kg.
The idea of such a machine is more designed for the United States than for Europe. Across the ocean, a network of small airfields is very developed, and it is quite possible to use the Liberty there almost everywhere with minimal mileage on the roads. But the device will be sold both there and there. The first 90 units will be assembled in the Liberty Pioneer Edition.
The cost of the road rotorcraft includes an introductory course and training with an instructor.
The top version includes a digital instrument cluster and a dual set of controls. The price of such a device in Europe will be 499,000 euros (excluding taxes), and in the US - $599,000. Later, the manufacturer promises to add a simpler version - Liberty Sport (299,000 euros, $399,000). The Dutch promise to show pre-production samples this year, and deliveries to customers are scheduled for the end of 2018. In the meantime, deposits are accepted (10 and 25 thousand dollars, or euros, depending on the configuration and region).
american flying Terrafugia car Transition (the first flight took place in 2012, and its prototype flew at all in 2009) is one of the protracted projects. The launch date for this hybrid passenger car and aircraft on the market has been postponed several times. However, the firm accepts a $10,000 deposit for a $280,000 machine.
Let's just say that PAL-V pleasure is not cheap: basic sport version a Liberty aircar costs €299,000, a more advanced and richly equipped Pioneer Edition will cost €499,000, but since there are no live cars yet, the manufacturer is ready to accept a modest deposit of €2,500. Serial production is scheduled to begin at the end of this year, shipment of the first finished images to customers is scheduled for the end of 2018.
Technically, the PAL-V Liberty is a two-seat, twin-engine autogyro (aka gyroplane, aka gyrocopter), adapted to drive on highways. In the automotive incarnation, he is not larger compact crossover: length - 4 m, width - 2 m, height - 1.7 m. The younger 100-horsepower Rotax engine will allow the aircar to accelerate on the road to 100 km / h in less than 9 maximum speed- 160 km / h. Too much for such a return? So after all, the curb weight of the Liberty is only 664 kg, and the maximum takeoff weight is 910 kg.
The second, more powerful 200-horsepower Rotax engine is responsible for the flight mode, the maximum speed in the air is the same as on the ground - 160 km / h, but recommended cruising speed- 140 km / h. Flight range 400–500 km. Max Height- 3500 m. Transferring the car to airplane mode takes 5–10 minutes, for takeoff it needs a flat, interference-free area of 200 × 20 m. For landing, a distance of only 30 m is enough. The manufacturer emphasizes that the design of the gyroplane is such that even if the unbelievable happens and the engine breaks down in flight, then the PAL-V Liberty will not crash to the ground, but will carefully plan - the main thing is to have somewhere to sit down.
To operate an aircar, you must have a flight license and driver license.
- In January, the Russian Foundation for Advanced Study announced a competition for the creation - PAL-V Liberty does not fall under this definition.
- Aeromobiles are being developed, among other things, by large and experienced corporations, for example,
Guess who created the world's first officially licensed flying car? Of course, the Dutch dreamers! PAL-V Company together with the design studio Spark Design, we thought about building aircraft based on the Carver tricycle approximately ten years ago. And in 2012, test flights of an apparatus built according to the gyroplane scheme took place - with a traction propeller and a free rotor that creates lift. The rest of the time was spent fine-tuning the design and certifying the machine. And finally, PAL-V is offered to everyone!
The company accepts orders for two versions. The first, Pioneer Edition, will be released in a limited edition of 90 copies at a price of 499,000 euros. For this money, the buyer will receive double car with the maximum range of options and rich interior trim, as well as management training courses and training in any corner of the planet. You can reserve the PAL-V Pioneer Edition now with a non-refundable deposit of 25,000 euros. However, if you do not rush, then you can get by with smaller amounts: regular version Sports costs 299 thousand euros, and the fee for it is 10 thousand. By the way, if the company has difficulties with certification of the flying car in the country of the buyer, then it will still return the deposit.
For comparison: the simplest helicopter costs about the same, and the price of an ordinary gyroplane is an order of magnitude lower. But PAL-V takes versatility. On the roads common use A 100-horsepower Rotax engine allows a four-meter machine with its own weight of 664 kg to accelerate to 160 km / h, and acceleration to “hundreds” fits in 9 s. Transferring PAL-V to flight mode takes five to ten minutes, after which a car with a 200 hp traction motor. a maximum of 330 m acceleration is required for takeoff. The speed in the air (the same 160 km / h) is quite comparable with the speed of an inexpensive helicopter, and to land a car, even with a failed traction motor, it is possible at a speed of 30 km / h in a section no longer than 30 m. True, the law requires take-off only from specially designed lanes, but in some countries it is possible to use sections of roads in private ownership.
And most great advantage PAL-V in front of helicopters and conventional gyroplanes - the ability to arrive at the take-off point under its own power. The only difficulty is that the control requires not only a driver's license, but also a flight license. Although the design affiliation of the machine to gyroplanes allows you to get it after 30-40 hours of training.
PAL-V promises to start serial production flying cars by autumn, but their delivery to customers is scheduled only at the end of 2018. By the way, if the client has doubts, you can reserve a car for only 2,500 euros - and on a return basis. But then you will have to wait the longest, and if you refuse to buy, you will not be able to resell your turn to another person who wants it.
