PAL-V
The PAL-V is a manufacturer of flying cars . The concept combines the tilting technology for road vehicles from Carver ( Carver One ) with the flight characteristics of a gyroplane . The first test flights of the prototype took place in March 2012. The vehicle is to be delivered to series customers from 2021. The name PAL-V is an acronym and stands for Personal Air and Land Vehicle , in German personal air and land vehicle .
construction
The first plans for the PAL-V existed before 2004. The concept is based on the designs of the Dutch engineer John Bakker under the umbrella of PAL-V Europe BV .
For flight operations, the prototype is driven by a pressure propeller from a rotary piston engine from the Swiss manufacturer Mistral , which has an output of 148 kW (200 hp). The rotor is set in rotation passively by the airstream and thereby generates the necessary lift (see gyroplane ). While driving on the ground, the rotor, drive propeller and tail unit are folded in. The motor then transmits its power to the rear wheels via a chain drive.
The PAL-V is designed as a two-seater and reaches a top speed of 180 km / h both on the ground and in the air. For take-offs and landings, a runway no longer than 200 m long and 30 m wide is required.
By August 2012, the prototype had already completed 15 hours of flight, and it was shown that a land range of 1200 km and a flight range of 500 km are realistic. Another prototype is to be completed by 2013 in order to achieve certification of the PAL-V according to FAR CS 27. According to current plans, certification should be achieved by mid-2021 and pre-series production should start.
use
According to the company, the PAL-V meets both the official regulations for motor vehicles and the requirements for aircraft according to FAR CS 27. It can therefore be legally moved on the ground and in the air. A private pilot's license (PPL) with the appropriate type rating is required for operation in the air ; A driver's license is required on the ground.
In most European countries, take-offs and landings for private pilots have so far only been allowed at designated airports. In the long term, the developers hope for a change in private transport so that a flexible change from road to air becomes possible. For this, however, a large number of small starting places are required, which should be located like parking spaces on the roadside. Furthermore, there are considerations to create "highways" in the airspace with the help of satellite navigation .
The company specifically takes emergency doctors and other special users into account when marketing it. In 2008 the Dutch police announced that they were fundamentally interested in buying 40 PAL-Vs. The unit price should be around 499,000 euros.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Pal-V (target values) |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 1 |
| length | 4.00 m |
| width | 2.00 m |
| height | 1.60 m |
| Empty mass | 665 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 910 kg |
| Top speed | 180 km / h (both on the ground and in the air) |
| Minimum speed (flight operations) | 50 km / h |
| Landing route | approx. 30 m |
| Takeoff route | approx. 165 m |
| Range | Max. 1200 km (ground) / 350–400 km (air) |
| Engine power | 150 kW (200 PS) |
| fuel | initially only gasoline , later also diesel or ethanol |
| consumption | 8.3 l / 100 km (ground), 28 l / h (air) |
Film documentaries
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Promotional video on the occasion of the maiden flight (English)
- Press release on the maiden flight (German; PDF; 117 kB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ PAL-V hoping to lead personal transportation revolution gizmag.com, 2004
- ↑ Flügel Das Magazin, No. 116, 4/2012, p. 49
- ↑ PAL-V flying car makes successful first test flight gizmag.com, April 2, 2012
- ↑ Flügel Das Magazin, No. 116, 4/2012, p. 49
- ↑ Flying cars go into series production BZ, January 9, 2011
- ↑ Politie ziet wel toekomst in patrouille met vgende auto bndestem.nl, July 1st, 2008
- ↑ IBT ibtimes.co.uk, August 30, 2016
- ↑ Manufacturer information ( Memento of April 4, 2012 in the Internet Archive ), August 30, 2016