PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

By Irwin

Travel these days is hectic due to traffic. Roads are getting congested and a short commute that used to take just 20 minutes has become an hour's travel. If you are specially travelling to the airport for a short flight of say 45 minutes, you end up getting to the airport an hour early, plus the travel time and blah blah blah takes about two to three hours.

What if there is a company out there who has understood what a person is going through and has created something special? Something that can go on land, like a quick car, but can lean into a corner like a motorcycle, and take off like a helicopter?

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

Welcome to the world of a Swedish company called PAL-V, who has created a vehicle that can travel on road and take off into the skies above.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

On the ground, the PAL-V is a slim, aerodynamic, 3-wheeled vehicle that features the comfort of a car, but can lean into a corner like a motorcycle, due to its ‘tilting' system.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

If one is bored of the road, he or she can drive to the nearest airfield and in minutes, the PAL-V is ready to fly.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

The PAL-V has a single, foldable rotor and propeller, that neatly tucks away. The PAL-V has a very short takeoff and landing capability, making the PAL-V to literally land anywhere.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

Also, the PAL-V flies at an altitude of below 4,000 feet, which does not interfere with other aircrafts or helicopters.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

On land, the PAL-V can reach a top speed of 170km/h and can travel for 1,210km on a full tank of gas. On air, the PAL-V can reach a top speed of 170km/h again, and travel for a distance of 350 to 400km.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

Flying a PAL-V is like a standard gyroplane. It is quite compared to helicopters due to slow rotation of the main rotor. It takes off and lands with low speeds, cannot stall, and is quite easy to control.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

The gyroplane technology enables the PAL-V to land safely even if the engine fails, because the rotor keeps rotating.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

Once landed, it is easy to convert the PAL-V to a normal road car again. Once the engine stops, the propeller folds itself automatically. Then, a press of a button lowers the rotor into the horizontal position, and the same motion lowers the tail. To convert the PAL-V to fly again, it's the same process in reverse.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

Speaking of the engine specifications, as said before, the PAL-V can reach a top speed of 170km/h, and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in under 10 seconds. The engine produces 200bhp and can carry two people.

PAL-V One: The Only Automobile One Would Need, Be It Air Or Land

The PAL-V made its first flight in 2012, and in 2014, the company announced that the flying car will be put into production, which will be limited to just 45 units. Deliveries will begin from 2017.

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Read more on: #off beat
Article Published On: Friday, March 4, 2016, 18:21 [IST]
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