Gilo Cardozo, a self-taught aviation engineer, inventor and founder of British-based Parajet has created a two-seat flying car.The Skycar is powered by a modified 1000cc, four cylinder, 140hp, ethanol burning, Yamaha R1 superbike engine with a lightweight automatic CVT(continuously variable transmission) gear-box.
It has independent four wheel suspension and rear wheel drive. Road acceleration is 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 110 mph.To convert to flight mode, the driver unfolds a parafoil wing from the trunk (boot) and attaches it to the rear of the car. He then flips a switch to change the transmission from road mode, which powers the wheels, to flight mode, which powers the rear fan.Converting from “road mode” to “fly mode” and visa-versa takes about three minutes thanks to the flexible wing technology invented by Mike Campbell Jones, of Paramania Powergliders.The fan’s thrust propels the car forward, providing lift for the wing as the car reaches a takeoff speed of 35 mph. Once airborne, foot pedals move cables attached to the parafoil to direct the flight path. Top air speed is 100 mphat altitudes of 2000 to 3000 feet. Maximum altitude is 15,000 ft. with a range of 180 miles. The Skycar is also equipped with an roof-mounted ballastic parachute for emergencies.In January 2009, an Expedition Team plans to drive/fly the Skycar from London, England to Timbuktu located in the African country of Mali. A total distance of 3700 miles."It’s going to be quite a treacherous trip,” predicts Cardozo. “But that’s all part of a good adventure.”The Skycar will take a 22-mile flight across the English Channel, before landing in France and continuing by road.Then, after a high-altitude flight over the Pyrenees, the Skycar flys across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa, then through Morocco and across the Sahara desert to Timbuktu.“If the Skycar goes down over water, we risk losing it” says Cardozo. “We’re looking into flotation devices like they use on lifeboats. You attach them to the car and throw them out to stop it from sinking.” The Sahara is also a dangerous environment, not only for it's intense heat and dust - but for criminals.Upon completion of this maiden voyage, Cardozo plans to make a limited production of the Skycar. Potential buyers require a powered parachute license rather than a pilots license and the British government has approved the vehicle as street legal.