The Weird World of Wheels Special: Flying Cars

The Aerocar

Inspired by a 1949 vehicle of the same name, Aleksandr Gegak and his team demonstrated the sleek and lightweight Aerocar at a Russian airport earlier this year.

Weighing just 60kg, the powered hang-glider type vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50mph on the ground, has a top airborne speed of 100mph, and can cruise at 13,000 feet.

The Aerocar even has a floatation device in case of an aquatic emergency.

Mr Gegak said: “It's great for fishing or hunting. It can be set at 15 kilometres per hour (10mph) so it will practically stay still. That's good for hunting."

The Moller M200X

Designed by engineer Paul Moller in 1989, the flying saucer-shaped M200X flying car is powered by eight Wankel rotary engines.

Designed as a VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, the M200X can fly at up to heights of 50 feet.

Capable of carrying two people, the M200X has completed 200 manned and unmanned flights, and runs on a fuel mixture of 70 per cent bioethanol and 30 per cent water, thereby fulfilling California’s SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) requirements.

Here’s some video of the M200X:

The Skycar M400

The prototype M400, again designed by the M200X’s creator Paul Moller, is capable of flying at a top speed of 375mph at 13,200 feet, and can also take off and land vertically.

Because it uses rotary engine-powered propellers instead of jet engines, it is expected to have a price of £300,000 - £500,000.

Here’s some footage of the M400 flying car in action: