This American Flying Car Will Soon Be A Reality

US-based flying car start-up 'Kitty Hawk Corporation' has released a video of its Flyer prototype, an all-electric aircraft. The Silicon valley start-up firm is reportedly backed up Google co-founder Larry Page and announced its plans of delivering the 'personal flying machine' by the end of this year.

By Sameer Contractor

1 mins read

Published on April 25, 2017

Highlights

Kitty Hawk will commence deliveries of the Flying Car by the end of 2017
Kitty Hawk is reportedly backed by Google co-founder Larry Page
The Flyer is legal in the US and doesn't need a pilot's license

Flying cars may be the ultimate science fiction fantasy, but is yet to be a part of our day-to-day lives. However, it now seems that the world is finally getting a step closer to these and one of such flying cars could go on sale as early as towards the end of 2017. US-based flying car start-up 'Kitty Hawk Corporation' has released a video of its Flyer prototype, an all-electric aircraft. The Silicon valley start-up firm is reportedly backed up Google co-founder Larry Page and announced its plans of delivering the 'personal flying machine' by the end of this year. A statement from Kitty Hawk said, "Today we're announcing our first prototype of The Flyer, a personal flying machine that will become available for sale by the end of 2017." The company added, "Our mission is to make the dream of personal flight a reality. We believe when everyone has access to personal flight, a new, limitless world of opportunity will open up to them." The Kitty Hawk Flyer is a single-seat aircraft with pontoons and a spider's web designed platform. The aircraft is propelled by eight rotors, and takes off and lands vertically much like a helicopter. The manufacturer categorises under the Ultralight category with a weight of just 100 kg and can fly at speeds up to 40 kmph while hovering at a height of 15 feet. Kitty Hawk says its Flyer is legal to operate in the US under the country's federal regulations for ultralight aircrafts and has been tested. The company has specifically designed it to fly over water and you won't need a pilot's license in order to operate one. All you need to do though is take a two hour train to learn how to operate the the Kitty Hawk Flyer. In case you are wondering, the name Kitty Hawk comes from the small town of Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, USA where the Wright Brothers originally flew their 'Wright Flyer' which, as we know, is the worlds's first powered airplane. The name of the new flying vehicle too has been inspired by that same plane which kickstarted the aviation age as we know it today. The American start-up's website says little more about the Flyer. Instead, what it does offer is a three-year membership for $100 (around Rs. 6500) to be placed on a waiting list and eventually get a discount on the production model. Kitty Hawk has confirmed that the production model that will go on sale later this year will have a different design than the prototype revealed. The company does describe it as a flying motorcycle with the seating position being similar. A host of companies are investing in flying car technology including European conglomerate Airbus that have been working on similar flying machines. We also recently told you about the two-seater Aeromobil which is car/flying machine, and could make it to deliveries as early as 2018.