Flying Cars for Military Applications?

The age of the flying military cars has arrived, according to Stewart Hamel, founder of SkyRunner and expert in the technology of flying cars.

Hamel, whose SkyRunner MK 3.2 is the product of six years of military, off-road and pilot input, said, “Infiltration and exfiltration and medical evacuation are a few of the military uses for flying cars. This technology also has similar advantages to existing aircraft such as helicopters and drones. The big idea is that it solves gaps in operational capability, preserves safety-of-mission, preserves safety-of-force, and represents billions of dollars in savings against operational overkill.”

The idea of flying vehicles utilized in the military is not new. Over 60 years ago, the U.S. military paid Piasecki Aircraft Corporation to develop a “flying jeep.”

Currently, a Russian defense manufacturer, Kalashnikov, has produced single passenger “flying car” that operates with 16 sets of rotors in a grid-like structure, is controlled using two joysticks, and is electrically powered. While impressive in some areas, the Russian vehicle cannot fly more than half an hour before exhausting its batteries.

Meanwhile, French company Valyon has also reported building a flying car, utilizing a paraglider propeller, that can fly a distance of 600 miles at an airspeed of 50 mph, and is capable of reaching an altitude of 9,000 feet. It has was reportedly designed in such a way that it can move stealthily toward targets when airborne.

In comparison, The SkyRunner, which as two engines, one for flying, and one for ground use as an all-terrain vehicle, can drive a distance of 240 miles on top of the 120 nautical miles at an airspeed of 40 mph, to a restricted height of 10,000 feet via  a canopy and propeller.  

Thus, military leaders have been playing attention to flying car technology since viewing SkyRunner at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida boat show several years go. At the show the military became as interested as the recreational public and the results were considerable input into SkyRunner’s development. Their contributions included a design philosophy to enhance adaptability, redundancy, versatility, modularity, simplicity and serviceability. Thus, the SkyRunner’s was made to be more durable and it was and switched from having just one engine to having two.

“Flying car technology is quickly evolving from eccentric hype into practical, high-impact applications for government security and military theaters,” Hamel concluded. “Operational capability, safety-of-mission and safety-of-force is the baseline. The next question is, what does it all cost (in Lifecyle of procurement, post-procurement and hourly operations)? While SkyRunner isn’t poised as a perfect substitute for helicopters or drones, it’s operational versatility, simplicity, serviceability and modularity is game changing for short range missions. When measured against price, the next question is… how can an agency afford not to have this technology in inventory?”

Category: General Update, News