Is a flying car closer than we think?
on February 16th, 2011 at 10:02 pmIt sounds like something out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or even Back to the Future – but one inventor claims to made the flying car a reality. While it could well help solve the issue of traffic gridlock which plagues many cities, an airborn version of the converted hatchback looks to be some time away from the production line. Made out of an seemingly-ordinary 800cc Maruti car, it has rotor blades affixed to the roof with extended wheelarches creating a ‘vacuum section’, and has been one of the star attractions at the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore. The Maruti was India’s first small car, built in the 1980s by Suzuki, and has formed the basis of inventor A.K. Vishwanath’s dream. The 52-year-old has spent 16 years working on the ‘flying Maruti’, and claims it has vertical lift-off and he has tested a scale version tested in a wind tunnel. So far, he has garnered 40 patents, and told reporters his inspiration came from many sources, including the flying ability of bees. Other engineers are also working on the project. More
