The skycar is an invention developed in 2009 by the skycar expedition team. The team included aviation engineer, Gilo Cardozo, a reknowned paraglider and inventor of parajet.He is also known for successfully flying to Mount Everest in his Wankel rotary-powered Parajet.It is an improvement of the balloon car.
Cardozo explained, "the skycar can move from road mode to flymode in 3minutes." ZIt could take off after attaining an average speed of 35mph when switched to fly mode.
The Skycar was to be different from other flying cars through its method of staying aloft. In the prototype stages, the vehicle used a similar method of flight as Cardozo's Parajet -- a parawing that is force-fed with air by a large fan. The fan was driven by a 140-horsepower Yamaha sportbike engine.The team said that an air speed of 100 mph was possible at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. It was expected to accelerate from 0-60mph in 45 seconds.
The team made its test flight between London and Tumuktu in Mali but was not successful. In the third flight, Cardozo crushed into a tree but further tests enabled the team to achieve 9000km.
Skyrunner
In 2014, the team remodified the design and developed the Skyrunner. It had different features and with better performance.
The skyrunner was able to attain a maximum speed of 55mph in the air and 115mph on land. Traditional wings are replaced and powered with parachutes. The craft's makers point to powered parachutes being considerably safer than traditional fixed-wing aircraft. It also has a 1.0 litre eco boost engine which puts out 123bhp and 148lb ft of torque and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds. Weight is 420kg.
Company founder Stewet Hamel commented in an interview: "This vehicle will change the way people experience their world and provide pure enjoyment of flight. Imagine driving an all-terrain vehicle that can convert from road to air mode in three minutes with SkyRunner, that dream has become a reality."
Pros
When airborne, pilots have just two extra controls in the form of pitch and roll functions.
Beaches, open fields and grassland will be used to land the model rather than traditional runways.
Cons
The model has a limit of 10,000 feet above sea level, and at present can only be flown in daylight.
Target customers
Farmers,medical teams
Price:$119,000 - or £74,282