‘Flying Car’ Market Continues to Simmer as Competition Moves Towards Production

Aviterra of Dubai has signed off on a deal to purchase more than a hundred PAL-V flying cars for its regional aviation ops in Dubai.

Under the deal, the Jetex relative stressed the appeal of the convertible-use aircraft for 'last-mile' solutions and regional air mobility. Mouhanad Wadaa, Aviterra managing director, said "The PAL-V is the perfect tool for our customers’ regional travel requirements, offering a combination of flying and driving. It’s truly an innovation that will change mobility as we know it.”

The PAL-V has been in a slowly simmering battle for the right to dominate the "flying car" market, hitting many of the same beats as things like the Samson Sky Switchblade on the other side of the Atlantic. Unlike the fixed-wing pusher-prop Switchblade, the PAL-V opts to take flight as a gyrocopter. In both cases, they sidestep exceedingly strict automotive regulations with the omission of a single tire, making them "trikes" that are legislated more in line with motorcycles than autos. That's just about the only way to keep them light enough to actually fly after driving to the airfield via surface streets. The PAL-V Liberty offers a 180kmh top speed and a 500-km range. Some orders in Europe have been made thanks to its short takeoff capability, a kind of quick-response medic car to get ALS on scene faster than responding trucks could arrive.

FMI: www.pal-v.com