Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Biofuel Skycar headed for production in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/biofuel-skycar-headed-for-production-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/biofuel-skycar-headed-for-production-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/biofuel-skycar-headed-for-production-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Parajet Skycar prototypes - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this year, the Parajet Skycar Expedition, featuring the "World's First Bio-fuelled Flying Car," flew from London, England to Timbuktu in Mali, Africa. If you lusted over something so incredibly cool - a car that can transform from ground to air mode in about three minutes and actually works in both areas, then we've got good news for you: Parajet International Ltd has struck a deal to produce road-legal SkyCars with Rage Motorsport Ltd.

Rage will build the vehicle and Parajet will add all the parts that make it fly. A mock-up of the vehicle is pictured here, but Parajet says a "totally new chassis is being designed for the SkyCar which accommodates the rear fan system into the tubular chassis work." This will reduce weight by about 80 kg (176 lbs). Other changes are to include a re-positioned rear parachute, more legroom and a three-cylinder, 140 horsepower fuel-injected Yamaha engine. How long will you have to wait for one? Parajet says test flights of the skycar should happen this September and the release date could be early 2010.

Watch a CNN-produced video of the Skycar in action after the jump.


Gallery: Biofueled Skycar


[Sources: Parajet Ltd; CNN.com]

Continue reading Biofuel Skycar headed for production in 2010

Biofuel Skycar headed for production in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying autoflying carflying carsFlyingAutoFlyingCarFlyingCarsparajetskycarFri, 17 Apr 2009 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: One of six Aerocars ever made]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-one-of-six-aerocars-ever-made/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-one-of-six-aerocars-ever-made/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/02/ebay-find-of-the-day-one-of-six-aerocars-ever-made/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for more shots of the Aerocar in eBay

Now here's something you just don't see every day. In fact, we'd wager most people will never see an original Aerocar in person at all, considering that only six were ever made. Now that one has managed to pop up on eBay Motors, this could be your chance to own a small piece of history. Built in 1956, this red and black Aerocar hasn't been flown since the late '70s, but looks to have been stored properly and appears to be in remarkably good shape.

Powered by a single Lycoming engine offering up 135 horses, the Aerocar is capable of hitting 112 miles per hour in the air and about half that on the tarmac. The whole kit was an amazing when it was designed in the 1940s with its front-wheel drive chassis propping up foldable wings that are towed behind when not needed along with a rear-mounted detachable pusher prop. The transformation from automobile to airplane reportedly takes one man just five minutes to complete.

Such a unique and historically significant machine isn't going to come cheap. In the case of the Aerocar, a cool $3.5 mil is all that's required to fly drive trailer it home for yourself. To quote Dr. Jones, this thing belongs in a museum.

Gallery: 1956 Aerocar on eBay


[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: One of six Aerocars ever made originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerocarebay aerocarEbayAerocarflying carflying car ebayflying carsFlyingCarFlyingCarEbayFlyingCarsTue, 02 Dec 2008 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New York 2008: Milner Motors AirCar lands in Javits Center]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-milner-motors-shows-flying-electric-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-milner-motors-shows-flying-electric-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-milner-motors-shows-flying-electric-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the flying car from Milner

Our environmentally-attuned brethren at AutoblogGreen pointed us into the lower hall of the Javits Center to check out something they knew we'd love. After wading through the trucks and specialty makers on hand, we reached the Milner Motors booth. To one side was the Milner Motors ElectriCar. Across from it was the Milner Motors AirCar, which was what we came to see. Essentially the same as its electric vehicle, the flying car adds a set of wings and twin engine nacelles that theoretically supply enough thrust and lift for 1,000 miles of flight at 200 MPH. When earthbound, the wing package folds up and the car's 40-hp electric motor powers it up to 85 mph thanks to its light weight and great aerodynamics (the cd is only .209). This particular one is a non-functioning prototype, but we think we'll toss it off the roof of the Empire State building to test its glide prowess. We can only guess how much fun this thing might be if we could figure out a way to use those jet engines and their extra 300 hp to power this 1,800 lb. missle on the ground.

Gallery: Milner Motors AirCar

New York 2008: Milner Motors AirCar lands in Javits Center originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying carflying carsFlyingCarFlyingCarsmilner motorsMilnerMotorsnew yorknew york 2008new york auto showNewYorkNewYork2008NewYorkAutoShowThu, 20 Mar 2008 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Barrett-Jackson 2008: Panoz Esperante Flying Car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/19/barrett-jackson-2008-panoz-esperante-flying-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/19/barrett-jackson-2008-panoz-esperante-flying-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/19/barrett-jackson-2008-panoz-esperante-flying-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for high resolution photos of the car

We doubt Danny Panoz envisioned anyone attaching wings to an Esperante, let alone actually flying one. Of course, throw Jesse James of West Coast Choppers into the equation and anything can happen. This 2004 Panoz Esperante actually took flight on an episode of Monster Garage, making it off the ground for 280 feet before touching down safely. The interior has been stripped to make room for a full roll cage, a propeller is mounted in the trunk, and the 36' wings are handmade.

The final bid of $45,000 ($54,000 after auction fees) wasn't too high, although the Monster Garage cars haven't been commanding high numbers. We can't imagine what exactly you would want to do with this vehicle, so it's no surprise that bidding didn't come close to six figures.

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2008: Panoz Esperante Flying Car

Barrett-Jackson 2008: Panoz Esperante Flying Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008Barrett JacksonBarrettJacksonFlying CarFlyingCarJesse JamesJesseJamesMonster GarageMonsterGaragePanoz EsperantePanoz Esperante Flying CarPanozEsperantePanozEsperanteFlyingCarSat, 19 Jan 2008 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Commence holding breath: X-Hawk flying car could be here by 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/commence-holding-breath-x-hawk-flying-car-could-be-here-by-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/commence-holding-breath-x-hawk-flying-car-could-be-here-by-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/commence-holding-breath-x-hawk-flying-car-could-be-here-by-2010/#commentsFiled under:

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

Continue reading Commence holding breath: X-Hawk flying car could be here by 2010

Commence holding breath: X-Hawk flying car could be here by 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010flying carFlyingCarRafi YoeliRafiYoeliX-HawkWed, 31 Jan 2007 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[The Hammerhead: Is this the flying car we've been waiting for?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/12/the-hammerhead-is-this-the-flying-car-weve-been-waiting-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/12/the-hammerhead-is-this-the-flying-car-weve-been-waiting-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/12/the-hammerhead-is-this-the-flying-car-weve-been-waiting-for/#commentsFiled under: ,



The Moller SkyCar. The Terrafugia. The Alfa Romeo Spix flying concept car. All three of these winged machina have been dangled in our faces like a carrot at the end of an impossibly long stick. Jeff Allen Case is hoping he'll be the first to deliver on the promise of flying cars with his Hammerhead prototype. He's a few steps behind the Moller SkyCar and Terrafugia, having only a couple renderings of the Hammerhead and a spec sheet that exists on paper only. The Hammerhead has a three-fan configuration with two forward fans that tilt for both lift and thrust. Though we weren't told what engine would power the Hammerhead, Case says he expects a top speed of 250 mph at 8,000 ft. with a range of 300 miles. It both takes off and lands vertically, and Case claims the vehicle is characterized by being lightweight, easy to operate, safe and fast. The renderings show a one-seater cockpit, but the production version would seat two in tandem. Of course, a production version is the next step that the Hammerhead won't reach until Case finds some funding. He's hoping Jay-Z or P. Diddy might be interested in supplying the Benjamins needed to put the Hammerhead in production, but we suggest he go for that second mortgage and enter his design in NASA's Personal Air Vehicle Challenge. Perhaps he can catch the attention of some deep pockets at DARPA.

Follow the jump for an additional high resolution shot of the Hammerhead.

[Source: Jeff Allen Case]

Continue reading The Hammerhead: Is this the flying car we've been waiting for?

The Hammerhead: Is this the flying car we've been waiting for? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying carFlyingCarHammerheadJeff Allen CaseJeffAllenCaseMoller SkyCarMollerSkycarTerrafugiaSun, 12 Nov 2006 07:38:00 EST<![CDATA[LaBische FSC-1TM could be the flying car we're waiting for]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/07/labische-fsc-1tm-could-be-the-flying-car-were-waiting-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/07/labische-fsc-1tm-could-be-the-flying-car-were-waiting-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/07/labische-fsc-1tm-could-be-the-flying-car-were-waiting-for/#commentsFiled under: ,



We swear to all that is good and holy that we will not leave the mortal shackles of this terrestrial plane until we see flying cars become a reality. Perhaps the LaBische FSC-1TM will be the flying car that allows us to die in peace. If so, by the time we expire the skies will be filled with the FSC-1TM that features wings and a rear propeller that both fold up and disappear inside the car when driving on the street. When airborne the craft can reach speeds up to 275 mph, a figure based on calculations garnered from scale model prototypes being tested by LaBische. While we were hoping flying cars of the future would be powered by scramjet technology, if it's got to be prop-driven, then so be it. While a full-scale functioning prototype of the FSC-1TM has yet to be produced, the company is accepting deposits for build-it-yourself kits that will set you back $175,000 upon delivery. Upon delivery... we're waiting.

[Source: LaBische via Engadget]

LaBische FSC-1TM could be the flying car we're waiting for originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying carFlyingCarFSC-1TMLaBischeFri, 07 Jul 2006 16:04:00 EST