The 2017 Paris Air Show begins two weeks from now, bringing a rash of new announcements at the bleeding edge of commercial aerospace. Foremost among them this year is a very credible, two-seat flying car.
The 1,100 kg Workhorse Surefly uses an electric quadcopter layout with two contra-rotating propellers on each corner and a range-extending petrol engine, giving it a range of 70 miles and a top speed of 70 mph. The gas engine can then be fueled quickly with petroleum for immediate onward flight.
![The Surefly could easily become a two-seat sportscar of the skies with a very affordable price tag.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/1ee9ab9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1699x1080+0+0/resize/1440x915!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-11.jpg)
The Surefly thus could easily become a two-seat sportscar of the skies with a very affordable price tag.
![The Surefly could easily become a two-seat sportscar of the skies with a very affordable price tag.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/53b7385/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1620x1080+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-8.jpg)
The most comforting factor is the expertise Workhorse has already demonstrated in all the key aspects of the design.
![The range-extending engine of the Workhorse pick-up and truck originates from BMW where it is used in the i3 car](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/30e57d2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1020x574+0+0/resize/1020x574!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-20.jpg)
Workhorse already builds range-extended trucks and the Surefly uses the same range-extending BMW 600cc twin-cylinder generator engine as the company's pick-up and step van offerings.
![The range-extending engine of the Surefly originates from BMW and is already in use in BMW products in several ways. In the i3 car, it is used as a range-extender, and the same convenient form-factor of the compact, narrow and flat engine is that it also provides the motive power for BMW's super scooter C600.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/fd52cc8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1079+0+0/resize/1440x809!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-23.jpg)
The engine is already in use in BMW products in several ways. In the i3 car, it is used as a range-extender, and the same convenient form-factor of the compact, narrow and flat engine is that it also provides the motive power for BMW's super scooter C600.
![The range-extending engine of the Surefly originates from BMW and is already in use in BMW products in several ways. In the i3 car, it is used as a range-extender, and the same convenient form-factor of the compact, narrow and flat engine is that it also provides the motive power for BMW's super scooter C600.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/6a6fb28/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x802+0+0/resize/1440x602!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-22.jpg)
In being purposed for range-extending, the characteristics of the motor are considerably revised as the engine serves as a low-emission, high efficiency electricity generator – peak output of the motor is almost halved in the process.
![The Workhorse Horsefly in action. during trials with UPS.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/2298519/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1723x1080+0+0/resize/1440x903!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-26.jpg)
Even more comforting is that the company already makes the commercially available Workhorse HorseFly UAV Delivery system and is thus experienced at developing commercially-available multicopter flight control systems.
![The Workhorse Horsefly](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/b8342f0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1801x1080+0+0/resize/1440x864!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-18.jpg)
The Horsefly is an octocopter delivery drone that docks on the roof of a delivery truck and can autonomously deliver a package then meet up with the mother vehicle at its new location on the delivery route. Workhorse has a proprietary system and has also worked with United Parcel Service (UPS) to incorporate drones into day-to-day delivery operations.
![The Workhorse Horsefly in action. during trials with UPS.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/1439cbc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1440x810!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-25.jpg)
The Horsefly has a 30-minute flight time and can carry a package weighing up to 10 pounds.
![Workhorse already builds range-extended trucks and the Surefly uses the same range-extending BMW 600cc twin-cylinder generator engine as the company's pick-up and step van offerings](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/b60cd05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1769x1080+0+0/resize/1440x879!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fworkhorse-surefly-helicopter-range-extended-electric-quadcopter-3.jpg)
There is little more known about the Surefly at this point, but two weeks from now, we expect the two-seater to become yet another prototype promising that affordable personal flight is now tantalizingly close.
Source: Workhorse