For over a century people have dreamed about flying cars. A vehicle being equally at home on the road and in the air is a convenience that any person would desire.
A Dutch company named PAL-V is taking great steps to realising that dream with the creation of the PAL-V One. PAL stands for "personal air and land" and that is exactly what the PAL-V One aims to deliver; a personal vehicle that a user could drive on the motorway and then take to the sky when desired. It sounds like something from a science-fiction movie, but it's not. In fact, PAL-V One has already achieved flight and is in the process of production.
Imagine driving down the road and virtually with the push of a button the rotor begins to unfold and the tail of the vehicle extends. Next, with the advanced gyrocopter technology, the PAL-V One takes flight. This technology once left to science fiction novels is now available to the properly licensed public. Booking a few extra driving lessons won't suffice for the PAL-V One, as a special license is required.
In the United States flying a PAL-V One requires a sports pilot license and in the UK either a recreational pilot's license or a private pilot's license is required. Taking flight in the PAL-V One is exactly the same as flying a gyrocopter, utilising the safest form of flight available. Soaring above the land at speeds of up to a 110 miles an hour towards your destination is far more convenient than taking the motorway.
If one should choose to take to ground for travel, an equal speed can be reached.
With sports car-like handling and a two person fuselage, the PAL-V One makes for an exciting drive. It contains a tricycle-like undercarriage with larger wheels permitting faster and more comfortable travel on the roadways. A unique feature that the PAL-V One has is the ability to lean into turns like a motorcycle, greatly improving the vehicle's handling. The feeling has been described as skiing effortlessly down a mountain.
PAL-V is marketing the vehicle as the ultimate in convenience. They refer to operating the vehicle as fly-driving and list the benefit of owning as having no barriers in your way. Cross lakes and rivers, fly by congestion and pass by traffic jams. The benefits of fly-driving are seemingly endless; go island hopping and create your own bridge using the ultimate in mobility.
Achieving the maiden flight was a huge step for PAL-V, and now they are searching for more investors to start production on the PAL-V One.
Purchasing one of these amazing vehicles will not be a viable option for everyone, as they are expected to carry a price tag of around £185,500. The hefty sum is to be expected with the advanced technology put into these incredible vehicles. For now, the convenience of fly-driving will have to be left to the wealthy and the test pilots, but competitors are in the foreseeable future, which should help to make these vehicles more affordable to the general public one day.
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