While numerous aviation operators are delving into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and contemplating fleet renewal with new-generation eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing), only a select few are daring enough to explore flying cars. Disrupting conventions, a Dubai-based company has made a historic move with a groundbreaking deal.
More than 100 units of PAL-V’s flying car were acquired in a recent agreement with Aviterra, an aviation operator associated with Jetex, a well-established brand in executive aviation. Although Aviterra is headquartered in Dubai, the influx of these flying cars won’t inundate the immensely popular tourist destination. Instead, this substantial purchase aims to distribute flying cars across the Middle East and Africa.
Aviterra intends to employ the Liberty vehicle for last-mile solutions and regional travel, adding versatility to its fleet. Customers can opt to pilot this futuristic vehicle themselves or opt for conventional chauffeured transportation. This move is part of Pal-V and its partners’ endeavor to popularize “FlyDrive” as a trend, introducing an unconventional mode of transportation.
The Liberty, acclaimed as the world’s first true flying car, has garnered global attention with its unique blend of a conventional car and a gyroplane. Boasting an 817-mile (1,315 km) range on roads and a 310-mile (500 km) range in the sky, it can even double these figures with a single fuel stop. Designed for safe flight at 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) and a speed of 100 mph (160 kph), it offers an alternative to conventional commuting by bypassing traffic congestion and seamlessly transitioning between flying and driving modes.
Aviterra’s embrace of this groundbreaking concept underscores a potential revolution in air mobility, likely prompting more commercial operators to follow suit. The certification progress of the Liberty flying car is pivotal in this regard, with PAL-V hinting at forthcoming positive developments in the certification status in the ensuing weeks.
In another innovation world, XPENG AEROHT presents a distinct approach to the flying car concept, offering a 3-in-1 product combining a 6X6 ground vehicle and a personal eVTOL. With the air vehicle achieving a certification milestone in China and on track for full certification, it represents another stride toward the future of transportation.
