German Company Seeks LSA Designation ... If They Can Get A Weight Waiver

A German company unveiled a prototype of the latest entry into the quest for a truly roadable aircraft ... or "flying car" ... at Aero Friedrichshafen last month.

Called "Carplane", the company of the same name has been working on the concept since 2012. Unlike some other designs, the Carplane's two occupants sit in individual cockpits, and the wings fold up in between in its road configuration.

Fox News reports that the Carplane is powered by a 2-cylinder 150 hp engine that powers both the wheels and the propeller, and can operate both at the same time, giving the aircraft a takeoff roll of less than 300 feet. The prototype weighs about 1,000 pounds, but lacks a mechanism to automatically fold and unfold the wings, according to the report. A folding mechanism is planned for the production aircraft.

Top speed for the Carplane is 109 mph as a car. As an airplane, it will cruise at 108 knots (125 mph) with a top speed of about 120 knots, or 138 mph.

The company says it hopes that the aircraft can be certified by 2018. If it can be classified as an LSA, that date could be as early as 2017, but like other companies seeking the "holy grail" of a flying car, they would need a weight waiver to be considered an LSA. Carplane claims to be closest to certification both as an aircraft and as a road vehicle.

No base price for the Carplane has been set.

(Image provided by Carplane)

FMI: www.carplane.com