Flying Cars

Following a Kickstarter in 2017 to gauge interest in an electric flying car racing series, and an international public debut in 2019, Alauda Aeronautics has now unveiled a full-sized, fully functioning electric flying racing car – the Airspeeder Mk3.

French startup MACA is looking to bring car racing into the air above the track. Its Carcopter eVTOL race car is no drone, manned by a human driver pushing the hydrogen-fed electric-driven craft to speeds over 150 mph ... or so MACA hopes.

Slovakia's Klein Vision has released video of its new AirCar flying car prototype as it drives around, automatically transforms into flight mode, and then takes to the sky for its maiden flight. It's fun watching, but there are challenges ahead.

Dutch company Pal-V has celebrated a milestone for its Liberty vehicle, which it describes as the world's first production-model flying car. A high-performance trike that converts into a gyrocopter, the Liberty has been street-approved in the EU.

The 2019 Beazley Designs of the Year shortlist features a flying car, an expandable building, and a HIV test for developing countries.

​While we've seen some "flying cars" that require a runway, there's no doubt that what most people really want is a vehicle that takes off and lands more like a helicopter. Well, the Aska may be the answer … when and if it reaches production.

The Geneva Motor Show closed its doors on Sunday, and we wrap up our coverage with one final gallery. Beyond the performance cars, concept cars and electrified vehicles, there was a group of vehicles that epitomized automotive adventure, ranging from all-terrain supercars to camper vans.

​​After turning heads at last year’s Geneva Motor Show with its production-ready flying car, PAL-V has returned for 2019 with a special edition that it says will actually be first out of the gate.

​If they really are to be considered "cars," flying cars will require at least two things: tires for driving on the road, and propellers for flying through the air. Goodyear has combined the two into one unit – or actually into four units – with its Aero concept.

Another flying car company is preparing to join the race, as Australia's Macchina Volantis gears up to prototype its roadable 5-seat electric aircraft. With VTOL capability, winged flight mode and a diesel range extender, it should fly at three times highway speed and offer some serious range.

In its 50th test flight, Vahana's Alpha One is starting to demonstrate its tilt-wing flight capabilities. Its eight electric props point skyward for vertical takeoff and landing, then tilt forward when in motion for efficient, quick winged flight over long ranges.

There are no powered spinning propellers in nature. When evolution has found an advantage to producing thrust in a fluid, it has done it mainly by flapping things back and forth - and a new VTOL aircraft propulsion system aims to do the same with a series of flapping wings mounted in large ducts.