Currently reading: New SkyRunner flying car goes on sale
SkyRunner combines all-terrain vehicle with powered parachute flight; on sale in US; powered by 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine

A new all-terrain vehicle which is also capable of flight will go on sale this week.

The model, dubbed SkyRunner, will go on sale following a debut in Florida at a price of $139,000 - or £108,364. First deliveries are expected in 2014.

Rather than using a traditional fixed-wing arrangement to achieve flight, the SkyRunner instead uses a powered parachute, and is able to convert from road to flight mode inside three minutes.

The model is powered by a 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which puts out 123bhp and 148lb ft of torque. In total, the SkyRunner weighs 420kg and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds. Speed is limited to 55mph in the air, and 115mph on the ground. The SkyRunner has a range of 500 miles on the road, averaging 53mpg, and 200 nautical miles in the air.

Its makers say the SkyRunner "combines reliability, ease of use and portability into one adventurous package".

The craft's makers point to powered parachutes being considerably safer than traditional fixed-wing aircraft. When airborne, pilots have just two extra controls in the form of pitch and roll functions. The model has a limit of 10,000 feet above sea level, and at present can only be flown in daylight. According to SkyRunner, beaches, open fields and grassland will be used to land the model rather than traditional runways.

A license to fly the SkyRunner can be obtained with 12 hours of lessons, and is open to anyone over 17 and with a valid medial certificate. The company says SkyRunner is aimed at large land owners, farmers and emergency medical teams among others.

Even though SkyRunner was designed by UK-based Parajet Automotive, it is currently not known whether there are plans to sell the model in the UK.

Company founder Stewet Hamel said: "This vehicle will change the way people experience their world and provide pure enjoyment of flight. Imagine driving an all-terrain vehicle that can convert from road to air mode in three minutes with SkyRunner, that dream has become a reality."

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JOHN T SHEA 1 November 2013

THE FLYING CAR AT LAST!

At last! The Flying Car for real! And not just for James Bond. Bravo British inventors!
RPrior 1 November 2013

Great British Inventors - Gilo Cardozo - Wiltshire Farmer

Britain is seriously short of inventors - with the dynamic ability to see the products of their imagination through to production. In the case of the Parajet Skycar, (now called Sky Runner), the challenge of producing the world's first practical flying car has been taken up by many - but most of the products have failed to reach the market (Licensing / Cost / Servicing & Reliability issues). Gilo Cardozo fought tooth & nail to bring his creation to the market, and it looks likely that he will succeed, if the early issues of stability are resolved. There are some interesting videos on Youtube under the title of "Skycar" that trace the early issues in the development of the Prototype. CNN also covered the early prototype that you can see by looking up "CNN Reports on the Parajet Skycar" Great effort by a dynamic British inventor.
Walking 1 November 2013

Saved by the price

Good job the price is so high and the cockpit is so open else the skies would be full of them. They look great fun for big rural land mass countries.