Chinese manufacturer demos flying car in UAE, and it looks like a death trap
Chinese manufacturer Xpeng Aeroht unveiled its first manned flying car, the ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’, in Dubai, sparking both excitement and safety concerns, with 600 units ordered for the city and 7,000 globally, as the flying car industry is projected to reach $225 million by 2040. Picture: Chen Sihan / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP
Image: Chen Sihan / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP
If you’ve ever seen or flown a drone, you know they look like a flimsy piece of flying equipment as they’re incredibly light and fragile. Now, with the launch of a Chinese flying car, it’s like looking at an oversized drone that’s meant to fly humans as the comparison is unavoidable.
Earlier this month in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, the public were given their first glimpses of a flying car made by Chinese manufacturer Xpeng Aeroht. It was the first instance of a manned flying car demonstration to the public worldwide.
It hardly instilled confidence in my opinion, and I certainly feel like I’d be risking my life if I attempted to use one. Without sugar-coating it, it looks like a death trap.
The vehicle, which is classified as a ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’, took flight, much like pint-sized drones do with a one button press launch.
Dubai Orders 600 Flying Cars: A New Era in Transportation
The vehicles are also going on sale, with Dubai responsible for the order of 600 ‘flying cars’.
Again, the similarities with handheld drones are apparent. The four propellers appear as though they can fold in and out on top of the body, and also appear to be around head height.
That alone looks rather scary, as you’d clearly have to ensure there are no people remotely close to the vehicle before take-offs and landings.
According to yicaiglobal.com, sales for the flying car will begin in the Middle East in 2027.
To date, Xpeng Aeroht confirmed 7,000 orders for the new model.
Experts predict that Flying Cars will have a $225 million by the year 2040.
The movie Back to the Future predicted we would have flying cars commonplace by 2015, it seems they just needed to go another 30 years and some change for it to actually become true.