Look: Sharjah showcases $800,000 car that can fly from Abu Dhabi to Muscat in 2 hours 20 minutes
SHARJAH: Friday morning in Sharjah, Mamzar Beach is calling, but traffic is already heavy. Instead of joining the snaking line of cars on Corniche Road, navigate to a nearby designated airstrip and press a button on your car that can fly.
After a quick system check, you receive local air traffic control clearance. With a powerful surge, the three-wheeled Liberty speeds down the runway, and within moments, the rotor engages, lifting you smoothly into the air above the gridlock. Traffic be gone!
At least that was the vision presented by Robert Dingemanse - CEO and Founder of PAL-V – a Dutch company that has developed a roadworthy flying car.
The company's prototype flying car – PAL-V Liberty - was unveiled on Thursday at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP).
From Abu Dhabi to Muscat in 2 hours
According to the inventor, the car flies from one GCC nation to another in 2 hours and 20 minutes. 'For example, it can go from Dubai to Bahrain in 2 hours 20 minutes,' said Dingemanse. It can go from Abu Dhabi to Muscat and other countries in the region in a similar time frame. 'I've been in disruptive technologies my whole life. Our design philosophy of complying with existing road and air regulations saved us many years in time to market,' said Dingemanse - who started developing the vehicle in 2008.
He added, 'Instead of opting for a flying car concept based on not yet existing or immature technologies, requiring new regulations, we deliberately chose to design, engineer and manufacture a flying car with proven technologies.' The vehicle has a payload of 2 persons and 20kg of luggage for a 500 km journey.
The company received its European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification earlier this month. This is the first time we have issued a No Technical Objection (NTO) for a FlyDrive vehicle in the Innovative Air Mobility sector.
What is PAL-V Liberty?
The PAL-V Liberty, known as the world's first real flying car due to the combination of a gyroplane and a vehicle, addresses the need to travel independently from (congested) roads and enhance travel flexibility. With a flight range of 500 km and a maximum airspeed of 180 km/h, the Liberty shortens commute and travel times.
According to its inventor, the $800,000 car that can fly is a unique two-seater vehicle that seamlessly transforms from a three-wheeled road car into a gyroplane in approximately three minutes. Unlike other electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, PAL-V Liberty needs a short airstrip of about 200 meters for take-off and 30 meters for landing. Additionally, the pilot needs a specific gyroplane license obtained through the PAL-V institute.
'Plans are underway to open multiple training centres worldwide,' said Dingemanse.
PAL-V in the UAE
The UAE has been actively exploring and laying the groundwork for eVTOL technology in recent years, with ambitions accelerating particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
According to the founder CEO, the total value of PAL-V's current order book is between €150 to €200 million. And at least 20-30 per cent of the order value originates from the Middle East.
Aviterra, a Dubai-based company, ordered PAL-V to bring 101 Liberty flying cars to the Middle East and Africa.
Aviterra is run and backed by one of the founders of Jetex – an executive aviation company.
The company is now seeking clearances from local aviation authorities such as UAE's GCAA and Saudi Arabia's GACA for operation.
'The good thing is that the world is looking at what EASA and the FAA are doing because they are major certification bodies worldwide. I received confirmation from the CAAC in China that they've asked us to start applying for the last phase,' he said.
'Our goal is to build a fully-functional assembly line in the Middle East eventually,' said Dingemanse. All the production is currently happening in the Netherlands.
Sharjah's SRTI Park hopes to act as a "conduit", bringing together academia, industry, and government to advance the technology.
Juma Alhaj - communications strategy and marketing director – said they are in discussions with PAL-V about potentially hosting the assembly line for their unique dual-purpose flying car in Sharjah, with the aim of "bolstering the economy" and utilizing local university resources for further research and development.
Use-case scenarios
Here are the potential uses of the PAL-V Liberty, according to its inventor:
Quick transport of specialists to crisis areas.
Safer driving and flying compared to other aircraft.
Accessing locations inaccessible to helicopters by land.
Potentially safer than helicopters.
Observation missions.
Peacekeeping missions.
Policing.
First responders.
Coast guards.
Quick transportation of goods and employees (highlighted in Austria).
Support for peace-keeping operations.
VIP taxi services (Kuwait Airways MOU).
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