The serial implementation of the idea of a car with autonomous control took about half a century. About twenty years ago, the first models appeared that knew how to ride well without the help of a driver, and now the first such cars are sold. As for flying cars, this idea is as old as the cars and planes themselves. But they managed to create something truly viable only after the Second World War.
From idea to sale
Initially, as a rule, enthusiastic designers or small engineering firms did this. Many projects could not fully fly, another part just sank into oblivion. But a dozen of the three early autos were widely known. Those that survived the exploitation now rest, as a rule, in museums. None have reached the conveyor stage. But the designs created in the XXI century are actively promoting in this direction.
Some of them are a “marketing myth”, a way to earn money by attracting third-party investments and (in the future) selling patents. But the Slovak company AeroMobil announced a month ago that it is possible to pre-order the AeroMobil 3.0 model - at a price of 200, 000 euros or more. In fact, this is the beginning of sales.
AeroMobil 3.0
Since April, the manufacturer’s website can pre-order AeroMobil 3.0. Three years ago, when a small Slovak company created by designer Stefan Klein began the first tests, no one believed in success. Since April, the manufacturer’s website can pre-order AeroMobil 3.0. Three years ago, when a small Slovak company created by designer Stefan Klein began the first tests, no one believed in success.
It could have happened much earlier, when the American rocket engineer Molton Taylor took up the development of aerocars. In 1949, the first Aerocar 1 model appeared, which worked quite successfully and flew a lot. In the future, Taylor built several more. An improved version in 1956 received a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration. In the 1960s, one company agreed to mass-produce the Aerocar - provided that it was possible to get 500 pre-orders. Taylor collected 278 deposits for a thousand dollars, but that was the deal. Mankind was not ready to buy flying cars for $ 8, 500, although an ordinary car could then be taken for about five hundred. The work of Taylor was closely monitored by Ford Motor, but soon cooled to this topic.
Aerocar Molton Taylor
Molton Taylor's Aerocar was close to mass production, but did not grow together. When landing, the wings and tail were unfastened, which took about five minutes. Applied aviation 143-horsepower engine Lycoming O-320. With a maximum take-off weight of 950 kg, the device could carry four people. Molton Taylor's Aerocar was close to mass production, but did not grow together. When landing, the wings and tail were unfastened, which took about five minutes. Applied aviation 143-horsepower engine Lycoming O-320. With a maximum take-off weight of 950 kg, the device could carry four people. Related Materials
There was a propeller for the Toyota air car There were also loud failures, sobering up potential buyers. Henry Smolinski in 1973 crossed a Cessna Skymaster with a Ford Pinto. In the first test flight, the wing fell off, sending the crew from the creator and pilot to the other world. A year later, Leland Brian crashed on his Roadable III, leaving behind many patents. But the “minor misunderstandings” ultimately helped new generations of inventors avoid mistakes. And what comes to light these days is carefully calculated and highly effective designs (with the exception of exhibition concepts, which in most cases are not adapted to flights). The benefit of both technology and materials has taken a huge step forward, simplifying the solution of many technical problems.
Today, there are two main directions for the development of compact aircraft. The first is an airplane adapted for adequate movement on freeways. Something similar was built already in 1916: the Curtis autoplan is considered the first flying car in history. But the wingspan of 12 meters is not quite what everyone would be comfortable on public roads. And, in fact, one way or another, folding wings today have become an inevitable element.
Skycar M400
Famous for many, the American car of Paul Moller is the Skycar M400, which has been working on for about thirty years. It was interrupted by a fraud lawsuit (“where are you doing our investments, Paul?”) And bankruptcy proceedings. But in 2013 it was reported that Moller found a new investor. They say that the designer did not really manage to subdue eight 150-horsepower engines, and all flight tests pass with a safety rope, which is tied to a tower crane. Famous for many, the American car of Paul Moller is the Skycar M400, which has been working on for about thirty years. It was interrupted by a fraud lawsuit (“where are you doing our investments, Paul?”) And bankruptcy proceedings. But in 2013 it was reported that Moller found a new investor. They say that the designer did not really manage to subdue eight 150-horsepower engines, and all flight tests pass with a safety rope, which is tied to a tower crane.
The second current direction is quadro and multicopter of large size, “drones” that can lift one or two passengers and some luggage. All of them can take off and land vertically (VTOL function, Vertical Take-Off and Landing). And these are not particularly close relatives of the car, but a nascent new type of vehicle.
Take-off landing
The era of romance finally ended in the 1980s. Today it’s impossible just to build in such a way that it wanders into the head, and somewhere to ride or fly on it. You can use (and even sell) only those vehicles that comply with a wide variety of standards and are certified by authorized organizations in accordance with all the rules. AeroMobil 3.0 is just such a product - it has been tested and brought up for more than three years, simultaneously conducting the ideological processing of the relevant departments and authorities.
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The power structure of the body is a steel spatial frame. All units and external panels made of composite materials are attached to it. The movement is provided by a hybrid circuit: a 110-horsepower electric motor and a 300-horsepower turbocharged two-liter four-cylinder boxer (Euro-6). This allows you to achieve reasonable indicators of fuel consumption (AI-95). On the highway, the device develops up to 160 km / h, in the air - up to 350 km / h. Cruising range in the air - over 700 km. Maximum take-off weight - 960 kg, payload 240 kg.
Transformation from car to airplane and back takes a couple of minutes. There is a navigation system, an autopilot, all the necessary communications and an automatic security system, which, in which case, will open a parachute. The length of the car is 5998 mm, the width with the wings folded is 2248 mm, this corresponds to the EU standards for the dimensions for passenger cars.
A fundamental drawback is the impossibility of vertical take-off. To raise the air, AeroMobile needs to spread its wings and at least three hundred meters of acceleration. Traffic regulations of all countries of the world so far prohibit such maneuvers on public roads. Therefore, for takeoff, any kind of airfield is still necessary. But you can reach it on your own on the roads, refueling along the way at a regular gas station. In all likelihood, this will be perceived no less prestigiously, as an arrival at the Bugatti.
German project Carplane®
German project Carplane®. It has retractable wings and a twin-engine layout - one for riding, the other for flying. It is a direct competitor to AeroMobile and Terrafugia Transition. For two years, there has been talk of “intensive refinement,” but only the ground-based part of the tests is presented in the photo reports. Aerial - only in the format of a three-dimensional cartoon on the company's website. German project Carplane®. It has retractable wings and a twin-engine layout - one for riding, the other for flying. It is a direct competitor to AeroMobile and Terrafugia Transition. For two years, there has been talk of “intensive refinement,” but only the ground-based part of the tests is presented in the photo reports. Aerial - only in the format of a three-dimensional cartoon on the company's website.
Of course, in addition to the driver’s license, the owner of the AeroMobile must obtain a pilot’s license. But in general, various organizational quotes in the topic of autos are simply unmeasured.
Planet preparation
For example, should a plane take place annual maintenance only once? Or will it take two - like a car and a plane? In any case, AeroMobil 3.0 and other devices conceptually similar to it do not eliminate traffic jams and bad roads. Where the owner wants to go, there must also be some suitable runway. And it is completely incomprehensible whether it is realistic to certify such machines in Russia with its requirements for ERA-GLONASS. But this is a separate issue.
AeroMobil promo video gives a visual representation of the development and capabilities of its brainchild AeroMobil 3.0:
The problem of the massive use of such vehicles looks much more complicated. While we are talking about dozens and hundreds of aircraft, everything is clear - the existing civilian air services will completely digest it. And if there are thousands of them? How about safety in the air? Special corridor echelons will be distinguished and in them … traffic jams will form?
True, worrying about this is too early. First let them sell at least a dozen. Quite a lot was presented in the form of concepts at various exhibitions of small personal use aircraft. One of the most recent examples is the electric “drone” Pop.Up jointly developed by Airbus and ItalDesign, presented at the Geneva Motor Show. The concept provides a modular layout: the passenger capsule can be connected to a ground chassis or to a block of eight electric propellers. Autonomous control is in any mode, your task is to put a mark on the navigator map, the rest will be done by the machine itself.
Pop.Up jointly developed by Airbus and ItalDesign
The fully electric Pop.Up jointly developed by Airbus and ItalDesign implies the creation of a certain infrastructure serving the owners. The owner only buys a capsule, and modules for ground or air should be ordered - they will be delivered in a charged form. The implementation of such a plan requires crazy investments, so the project is more conceptual than practical. The fully electric Pop.Up jointly developed by Airbus and ItalDesign implies the creation of a certain infrastructure serving the owners. The owner only buys a capsule, and modules for ground or air should be ordered - they will be delivered in a charged form. The implementation of such a plan requires crazy investments, so the project is more conceptual than practical.
In 2013, the US authorities officially recognized the Terrafugia Transition as a light sport aircraft and allowed them to conduct practical tests. She, too, is ripe for mass production. Also known are Uber Elevate and Zee.Aero self-driving flying taxi projects with vertical take-off and landing. Toyota is planning to build an operating drone for the Olympics-2020, and this, by the way, is an important bell, indicating that after a long break, auto giants rejoined the topic of aerocars. In our photo collection, the most striking examples of aircraft …
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