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Flying Motorcycles

The PAL-V: Does this Dutch flying car have what it takes to succeed?

Earlier this week, we posted a reality check about the Terrafugia’s Transition flying car but a recent post by Scott Spangler on JetWhine has brought our attention to the PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) – a Dutch designed flying car concept that may or may not hold more promise. The PAL-V has recently made its maiden flight in the Netherlands and the company behind it is also seeking financing to commercialize the concept.

Specifically, the PAL-V is a two-seat three-wheel motorcycle that drives like a sports car but comes with a gyrocopter along with a fold-away rotor, prop and tail. According to the company’s website, the PAL-V will usually fly below 1,200 meters or 4,000 feet – the airspace that is available for uncontrolled Visual Flight Rules (VFR) traffic and away from commercial air traffic. It also runs on gasoline, has short take off and landing (STOL) capabilities and can reach speed of up to 180 km/h (112 mph) on both land and in the air.

If the company succeeds in getting financing, the first PAL-V will be ready for delivery in 2014. However, there appears to be no price set just yet for commercial production but someone did post the following comment on YouTube:

The PAL-V is expected to cost between €250,000 and €300,000 ($321,000-$385,000 USD) – so you could be better off buying a brand new Robinson helicopter (which sell from about $250,000) and a pair of Holden Barinas at $12490 a piece – one for either end of your flight.

Its worth pointing out that Scot Spangler asked in his post just how many people out there are going to be willing to spend $300,000 and then spend 6 months learning how to fly a car but if the PAL-V has a reasonable price point, it may attract a good number of well-heeled buyers. On the other hand and if the PAL-V is going to cost €250,000 and €300,000, I suspect the concept will have limited appeal beyond a few jetsetters.

Nevertheless, it would be really cool to walk into a rent-a-car agency and rent a flying car instead for the weekend!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHSaNtAMjs&w=480]

Flying car and flying motorcycle updates

We have been following various news stories about developments involving flying cars and flying motorcycles for some time now with a particular focus on the Terrafugia Transition. Hence, readers may want to check out an exclusive interview done by Jason Scappert for his m0a.com blog of Carl Dietrich, the CEO of Terrafugia Transition. As Carl explained in the interview, you can drive the Terrafugia Transition out of your garage and straight to the nearest airport and in less than a minute, convert the car into an aircraft for takeoff and then land at the airport nearest to your final destination. 

In addition and on a separate note, General Aviation has reported that MotoPOD LLC has developed a patent-pending belly pod that will allow pilots to carry a street-legal motorcycle underneath their aircraft. After landing, the motorcycle takes just 90 seconds to remove and then its just a matter of unfolding the handlebars and riding away.

The pods are currently available only for the Vans RV-10 (a 4-place kit airplane) but the company is working towards FAA certification and will soon have products available for the Cirrus SR-22, Cessna 182, Diamond DA-42 and other common general aviation aircraft. The pods are available for around US$8,000 and the company also offers a folding motorcycle conversion for about US$5,500. For more information, simply visit MotorcyclePilot.com.