<p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;"><a href="/images/old/6a00e5537d96628833010535d7f0eb970c-800wi.jpg" rel="lightbox" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Autovolantor1" class="at-xid-6a00e5537d96628833010535d7f0eb970c " src="/images/old/6a00e5537d96628833010535d7f0eb970c-350wi.jpg" style="width: 350px; " /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">The Autovolantor could be without doubt one of the greatest transportation inventions in the history of the modern world if it does come to fruition in 2 years as it is now planned.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">Picture being stuck in hellish b to b traffic in midtown during rush hour in your car.&#0160; Now imagine flipping a lever that allows your car to become a hovercraft of sorts, allowing you to elevate above the traffic as you glide over the dead-end gridlock, the beeping horns, the frustrated terrestrial vehicles, and easily flying your way to your destination.&#0160; That is the the dream that the Autovolantor promises to make reality.&#0160; </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">
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<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">It&#39;s an idea that&#39;s never really taken off, despite featuring in countless
books and films. &#0160;However, the flying car could become a reality in two years, claim its makers.&#0160; The Autovolantor is being marketed as the perfect way for the rich
and famous to avoid traffic jams, simply by taking to the skies. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">Its creators say it will cost an approximate $780,000 and allow drivers to reach speeds of
100mph on the ground and 150mph in the air.&#0160; Designer Bruce Calkins says the car, based on the $350,000 Ferrari 599 GTB,
will be powered by eight fans mounted in its fuselage. He said: &#39;On the ground these fans push the vehicle around with a firm but
not-too-powerful thrust of deflected air.</span></p>


<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">&#39;Once in the air the vehicle maneuvers like a helicopter, tilting nose down
to move forward, rolling right or left for changes in direction. While maximum altitude could be much higher, the energy to obtain altitudes
above 5,000 feet would be significant so we expect it to stay below that
height.&#39; Mr Calkins said the car will run on a hybrid fuel and electric system to
power the thrusters, creating as much as 800 horsepower.&#0160;He believes it will be able to travel for 75 miles by air or 150 miles by
ground before it needs refueling. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">As yet, the design is in its infancy and only a tiny scale model exists. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;"><a href="/images/old/6a00e5537d96628833010535d17317970b-800wi.jpg" rel="lightbox" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Autovolantor" class="at-xid-6a00e5537d96628833010535d17317970b " src="/images/old/6a00e5537d96628833010535d17317970b-350wi.jpg" style="width: 350px; " /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">Mr Calkins added: &#39;At first we were very skeptical that we could adapt a
ground-vehicle with our technologies and make it work. But the model allowed us
to verify quickly that it could in fact be done.&#39;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">The ambitious project was launched at aircraft designers Moller International
in the U.S. after the company received a request to design the vehicle from a
wealthy businessman who found the commute from the center of Moscow to his
country home would often be delayed by congestion. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">For decades Dr Paul Moller, the company&#39;s founder and president, has dreamt
of achieving a workable combination of ground and air transport.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">But despite the backing of a wealthy investor, he has yet to produce any
practical real-world drive-and-fly vehicles. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">Dr Moller concedes it may require a few tweaks to the Highway Code before the
Autovolantor is allowed to hit the high street, saying: &#39;It seems that it might
be practical in some parts of the world, but in our view a roadable aircraft,
rather than a flying car, is still more practical for the greatest number of
people. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">&#39;The Autovolantor is technically possible, but flying it in many cities is
not going to be politically acceptable until it has been deployed successfully
in other roles and environments. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial; ">&#39;Practical or not, it excites the imagination to think about being able to
rise vertically out of a traffic jam and just go.</span></p>
