Swiveling Ducted Fans Will Power The VTOL Aircraft

A DeLorean car has flown before ... at least in the movies. But now the iconic car maker has branched out into what it hopes will become a practical VTOL "personal air transport vehicle".

The concept is called the DeLorean DR-7. It is a two-place electric aircraft powered by two swiveling ducted fans that will provide lift for getting airborne, and trust for forward motion.

Wired reports that the aircraft is nearly 20 feet long and 18.5 feet wide with the wings extended. But they will fold against the side so that the aircraft can be stored in a large garage bay. DeLorean hopes that the vehicle can be made self-flying so that no special license will be required for its operations.

The company is still in the R&D phase of the project, according to the report. The goal is to produce a full-sized piloted, two-place prototype that will have a range of about 120 miles on battery power only.

DeLorean officials hope to have the prototype flying in about a year. Before anyone gets on board, the company plans to "fly the hell" out of a radio-controlled version somewhere in the California desert.

Of course, the major questions of certification and cost of the aircraft are unresolved. But the CEO and chief designer of DeLorean Aerospace, says in as little as five to 15 years, no one will need roads to get where they're going.

(Image courtesy DeLorean Aerospace)

FMI: Original Report