Skycar takes off on 3,700-mile flying road trip
Click to see more of the biofueled Skycar
The Parajet Skycar Expedition, featuring the "World's First Bio-fuelled Flying Car," has begun. The tiny fan-powered parachute car left London this week for Timbuktu in Mali, Africa. The 3,700-mile expedition is meant to raise awareness and money for the Alive and Kicking charity, which gives 150 people in "disadvantaged areas" jobs to make leather footballs, volleyballs and netballs. The team will drive most of the way between London and Timbuktu, but the Straits of Gibraltar, the Atlas Mountains and some of the Sahara Desert will be seen from above. The SkyCar can go up to 70 mph in the air, and 120 mph on the ground and switching from "road mode" to "fly mode" takes about three minutes. Impressive, but this is not a serious car. Skycar designer Giles Cardozo admits that, "it's more of a fun toy than the ultimate means of transport." We understand that, but still want to experience the fun ourselves.
Gallery: Biofueled Skycar
[Source: AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gabe 2:10PM (1/15/2009)
Error in title: "3,7000"?
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John Rowell 3:24PM (1/15/2009)
I still can't see how this thing is going to get airborne. Videos would be nice.
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Mark 4:30PM (1/15/2009)
I have a sport pilot license for powered parachutes. I could actually fly this thing. Unfortunately, my aging SixChuter is worth about $8K and replacing it with this dealio would cost me about $60 more.
Powered parachutes are a blast to fly and -- I say this as someone who drove one straight into the ground while trying to get too fancy -- extremely safe compared with other light aircraft.
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