The first woman-built vehicle, here for the future.
Here’s the thing. I’ve been a pilot for over four years now, and my dream has always been to create the car from the future ; what would it look like? What shape would it have? Would we even be driving it ourselves? All these questions that I asked again and again while contemplating the design of the car from the future.
MY VISION
It has come to my attention, that I am not the only one who has these out-of-the-ordinary thoughts. The only difference, is that these other people have actually executed on this vision. My vision, is not simply to build an aircraft with wheels or a car with wings but rather to innovate the entire industry of motor vehicles and transportation. Through the use of cars that do not use battery ions (which is terrible for us and the environment) but rather a new technology I have created.
Picture this : we no longer use streets for cars, but rather only for animals and walking. We have already cut out so much of our ground space and Forrests for our own infrastructures, now what if we gave it back to nature and instead, used our sky. The unlimited resource. I thought of creating highways and tunnels, transparent in its structure, so we do not block the sun or vegetation, and it would be used primarily for these motors. They would have their own regulations, but at least birds and animals would not suffer from it.
The closest example to this would be this sculpture from Bettina Pousttchi
AeroMobil.
Based in Slovakia, AeroMobil has developed a prototype flying car with designs emphasizing versatility in both air and land travel. Inspired by the mythical winged horse Pegasus, the AeroMobil is the high-end vehicle species equally at home on the road or in the sky – the flying car. The culmination of leading-edge automotive and aerospace design and engineering, advanced materials, luxury features, and impeccable styling, the AeroMobil does what no supercar or private jet can do. It can seamlessly transform from car to aircraft – from driving to flying – in under three minutes.
JOBY Aviation
Focused on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Joby is developing solutions for urban air mobility.
We all want to spend less time traveling and more time living. Joby Aviation, is making that possible with their pioneering electric aircraft. It’s a faster, cleaner, and smarter way to carry people through their lives. Powered by six electric motors, our aircraft takes off and lands vertically, giving us the flexibility to serve almost any community. Flying with us might feel more like getting into an SUV than boarding a plane.
Lilium Air Mobility
Lilium is working on an eVTOL aircraft designed for air taxis, featuring vertical takeoff capabilities. We have developed and delivered some of the world’s most successful and complex aircraft.
Volocopter
ThiVolocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for air taxi use. The CEO is Dirk Hoke and chairman Stefan Klocke.
Xpeng Aeroht
A subsidiary of the Chinese electric car manufacturer, Xpeng is developing flying cars targeting urban mobility.
PAL-V
The PAL-V Liberty is a gyroplane that can be driven on roads and is designed for personal use, aiming for commercial production soon. The PAL-V Liberty is a combination of a three-wheeled car and an autogyro, or gyroplane under development by PAL-V of the Netherlands. Both a driver’s license and an autogyro pilot’s license are required to operate the vehicle.
Ascendance Flight Technologies
This French startup is developing a flying car called the Atea, which is designed for short-distance travel. Decarbonizing air transport with hybrid electric propulsion technology and sustainable aircraft. High performance solutions to drive progress forward.
Klein Vision
Founder Stefan Klein has dedicated his life to this mission of seeing flying cars turn to life. With a team of over twenty developers, he has accomplished the first flight successfully and continues to innovate.
AirCar is composed of several functional units. Its aerodynamic fuselage provides enough space for the passengers and, at the same time, contributes to better lift characteristics during the flight. Among advanced technologies are the retractable wings, folding tail surfaces, parachute deployment system, etc. The folding tail surfaces contribute to a better longitudinal stability and take-off characteristics, just like in a conventional aircraft. However, in the car mode, retracted tail results in a more compact size.
AirCar has been conceived as a shape, evocating dynamic and attractive form predominantly built from an advanced composite material. In the car mode, the object generates downforce using spoiler and elevator pitch whereas in the aircraft mode the entire surface generates lift. Lift body concept includes future development for the spacious interior and for the variety of models: three and four seaters, twin-engine, and amphibious version.
TERRAFUGIA.
The brand was launched primarily by Carl Dietrich and Anna Mracek Dietrich. Terrafugia is a Chinese-owned corporation, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, United States that is developing a roadable aircraft called the Transition and a flying car called the TF-X.
Both these companies, much more advanced than their years, have already proven this concept. They have done the research for what will be a $1.3T industry. The future is here, the question remains : are you ready to fly?
Some design examples to get your brain moving…
Photography concept by Klein Vision. All Rights Reserved
Photography by Terrafugia
The market for flying cars is rapidly evolving, with many companies exploring advancements in aviation and personal transportation, aiming to make air travel more accessible in urban environments.
