Commence holding breath: X-Hawk flying car could be here by 2010
The flying car is the equivalent of transportation's carrot on a stick. It's a concept that always seems to be 3-5 years down the road. According to an Isreali inventor named Rafi Yoeli, the flying car will actually be here by 2010 in the form of his X-Hawk. The X-Hawk uses a ducted fan design that allows it to have the same manueverability of a helicopter without exposed blades that prevent choppers from hovering near buildings and the like. Yoeli's own company, Urban Aeronautics, is developing the X-Hawk first as a workhorse vehicle that could be used by firefighters, rescue teams, and the military to aid in the recovery of people stranded in hard to reach places. Like a helicopter, the X-Hawk can take off and land vertically, it will be able to fly up to 155 mph, reach an altitude of 12,000 ft and remain in the air for two hours. The size of the X-Hawks rotors, which are powere by four internal combustion engines, will be much smaller than a helicopters, which will make the vehicle quieter but also guzzle 50% more fuel. The X-Hawk only exists as a full-scale mockup right now, but Yoeli expects an unmanned Mule version to fly in 2009. A larger version capable of carrying ten people is also planned. The estimated price for an X-Hawk will make a Veyron owner blush: between $1.5 and $3.5 million, and Yoeli admits those estimates might be low.
At this point, we're prepared to pony up whatever cash is necessary to make the most famous example of automotive vaporware a reality. Check out more details on the X-Hawk after the jump.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Related posts:
eBay Find of the Day: Moller SkyCar
LaBische FSC-1TM could be the flying car we're waiting for
The Hammerhead: Is this the flying car we've been waiting for?
Alfa Romeo Spix flying concept car
NASA funds Flying Car competition
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
shitheel 11:19AM (5/11/2009)
wow, amazing, but we will never drive one, without reforming the entire DMV and license process, much less would we be able to afford such things for families and such with the way the world is about things like this, ffs its a military concept, or law enforcement, and while those are great ideas, you can count on some rule that will state civilian's don't get one.
Reply
BartMack 6:06PM (1/31/2007)
Put my name on the list for one in a 3-series coupe, please.
Reply
CarnifeX 8:19AM (2/01/2007)
attractive death box.
Reply
Seth 6:28PM (1/31/2007)
Hot damn! i can't wait to catch flying NASCAR! jeff gordon going 1100mph in a circle!
Reply
j 8:02PM (1/31/2007)
You mean its not a Toyota, drat!...
Toyota Sucks!
Reply
Edsel 10:46AM (2/01/2007)
I think I'd rather buy the Brooklyn Bridge.
Reply
Jenallay Bazkials 3:37PM (2/01/2007)
Is this where our 6 billion dollars of aid to Israel goes?
Reply