PAL-V One flying trike

Our colleagues over at Carsales.com.au recently reported on a flying car, and now we can talk about a flying trike, the PAL-V One.

In theory this vehicle sounds like a better option than the Terrafugia flying car because it has higher top speeds, greater cruising ranges and is easier to park and ride.

Dutch company PAL-V Europe N.V. is behind the concept, which appears to have taken the Carver One design - a tilting trike - and added helicopter rotor blades. There's more to it than that, but essentially it’s a tilting trike that can take to the skies.

When on the road, the petrol-powered PAL-V One accelerates from 0-100km/h in under 8.0 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 180km/h thanks to a 230hp (169kW) 'flight-certified' aircraft engine, and it can hit similar speeds when in the air.

It has a cruising range of 1200km on the ground and around 400km in the air.

However unlike the flying car, the transition between road vehicle and aircraft takes a lot longer than 30 seconds. In fact it takes around 10 minutes according to PAL-V, because the pilot/rider must get out of the vehicle and manually secure the rotor blades and move the tail section closer to the fuselage. PAL-V says the conversion "can be executed by the rider/pilot after just a short training lesson."

Weighing around 680kg dry, the PAL-V One has room for two adults and like some helicopters has to fly below 1200m (4000ft) to avoid commercial air traffic and adhere to Visual Flight Rules (VFR). It can reach speeds of up to 97 knots (180km/h) once airborne.

Not everyone can fly the PAL-V One however. In Europe potential customers will need a Recreational Pilot License, while Americans require Sports Pilot License and a similar license would be needed to fly one in Australia. PAL-V says it takes between 20 and 40 hours to learn to fly the PAL-V One confidently.

"The PAL-V One has a very short take off and landing capability, making it possible to land practically anywhere," reads the PAL-V press statement.

"Flying a PAL-V One is like a standard gyrocopter and is quieter than helicopters due to the slower rotation of the main rotor. It takes off and lands with low speed, cannot stall, and is very easy to control. The gyroplane technology means that it can be steered and landed safely even if the engine fails, because the rotor keeps auto rotating."

The transforming copter-trike has completed its maiden flight but is still being tested in the prototype phase. As such, no price has been mooted but PAL-V says if it can secure funding, production of the contraption could start in the next year.

Check out PAL-V.com for more details.