A recent NBC News (KCRA) report indicates that Paul Moller (after 50 years) is finally going to release a flying car (Sky Car 200). Moller has a partner with $80 million in funding from Athena Technologies and serious interest from China for a flying car production plant.
Paul Moller has previously been sued for fraud and went through bankruptcy in 2009.
Under the provisions of the memorandum, Moller International will team with this US company-led JV to jointly produce numerous models of its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The JV will initially invest $80 million (USD) of a planned $480 million investment with the objective of producing a variety of VTOL aircraft by 2014. Production will include the Skycar® 200 LS, Skycar® 400, Skycar® 600 and Neuera™ aircraft.
MI is to retain its Intellectual Property (IP) while providing the JV with aircraft designs, ready-to-install Rotapower® rotary aviation engines, and the requirements for the airframe and flight control system hardware to be produced in China.
The M400X Skycar prototype shown in an unmanned hover demonstration flight.
Neuera is the flying saucer like vertical takeoff and landing vehicle
Terrafugia Transition Roadable Plane Still on track for late 2013 Deliveries
The Terrafugia Transition (competitor to Moller) is the closest to commercial sales and deliveries for a roadable plane. The Proof of Concept Terrafugia Transition Vehicle was built over 2007-2008 and testing was completed in 2009. First delivery is scheduled for late 2013. Low volume production will begin in Woburn, Massachusetts. The location for large volume production has not yet been determined.
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Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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