Company Executive Will Attempt The Flight

A PAL-V vice president plans to fly around the world in his personal "flying car", though no firm date has been set to begin the attempt.

The online news site Futurism reports that PAL-V VP of sales Mark Jennings-Bates said in an interview at World's Fair Nano that he plans to fly his personal aircraft on the attempt, accompanies by a second PAL-V that will record the flight on video. Jennings-Bates said that he hopes to depart from and return to San Francisco with the flight taking about 90 days.

The company has not officially announced the attempt, but plans for the flight are reportedly well underway.

Fuel management will be a critical issue for the flight, as the PAL-V Liberty has a range of about 270 nautical miles while flying.

The pilot who will accompany Jennings-Bates has already flown the Liberty aircraft to that range limit over a portion of Greenland, according to the report. He told Jennings-Bates that the fuel calculations are "the most nerve-wracking experience you'll ever have."

The prototype PAL-V first flew in 2012. The Liberty, which is available for preorder now, was developed from that design.

The aircraft is expected to cost between $399,000 and $599,000 when it is available, which the company believes will be sometime next year.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.pal-v.com