Flying police car lands in Oz
The ultimate crim catcher costs as much as a supercar and is on display at this weekend’s Avalon AirshowFlying cars have a lot of critics… and now you can probably add criminals to that list.
The Pegasus E ‘flying car’ is an Aussie invention that can be driven like a car and flown like a helicopter, giving it greater scope – namely, to take to the air – during high-speed vehicle pursuits, which police forces are increasingly prohibiting due to safety concerns.
On display at this weekend’s 2023 Avalon Airshow (March 3-5), the dual-mode Pegasus E is powered by a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain generating 120kW, weighs just 265kg dry and can be seen power-sliding around a kart track, demonstrating its on-road agility.
The sleek car-copter’s top speed on the road is electronically limited to 120km/h, but that increases to 160km/h in the air.
Fitted with a 60-litre fuel tank that requires 95-octane premium petrol, its hybrid powertrain can go for 75km at 100km/h on battery power alone, claims Pegasus, and has a maximum range of 420km once airborne. Flight time is around three hours, using 20 litres of fuel per hour.
Maximum flying altitude is estimated at around 1800 metres or 5900 feet and it has a payload of 101kg.
Unlike a number of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles being developed by a range of car-makers and tech companies, its Melbourne-based maker says the Pegasus E is “world’s only true VTOL-capable drivable flying car that can be parked in any general car park or garage”, thanks to its automatic folding rotor blades.
“With the consumer and usability in mind, there are no manual inputs between flight and road functions. The transition can be done in three seconds by pushing a single button,” asserts the start-up.
“When the Pegasus has landed, the main rotors fold in half automatically using centrifugal force. This is our patented technology providing our customers with the ultimate in convenience.”
The company’s objective is to build commercially-viable flying cars for a range of customers, including law enforcement, government and the private sector.
The company hasn’t confirmed a price but says: “In full production, Pegasus will have a price similar to a supercar.”
Therefore it could pegged anywhere between $300,000 and $800,000, depending on one’s definition of a supercar.
Single- and two-seater versions are in the latter stages of development and Pegasus says it already has an order bank for its flying car.
“With Pegasus, people are now able to shift transportation into the third dimension, saving precious time by effectively escaping traffic congestion,” says the company.
“The Pegasus E controls are also extremely similar to cars and rotorcrafts. Our patented three-foot paddle system integrates all driving and flight controls into one package, allowing driving controls to be the same as a normal car and flight controls to be the same as a rotorcraft.”
Production of a four-seater 'Air Taxi' prototype will commence later in 2023 while freight 'flying car' and an 'Air Ambulance' are also in development by Pegasus.
It remains to be seen whether police forces in Australia and abroad will sign up for the Pegasus E, which will require a pilot’s licence as well as a driver’s licence to operate.
Numerous auto brands including Hyundai, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz have flying car projects in development, while Uber Air has promised to deploy a flying taxi fleet in three cities globally including Melbourne.
Another Aussie start-up, Airspeeder, has developed its own flying race car and will launch a race series in 2024 before commercialising its VTOL craft for private buyers.
Pegasus E technical data:
Engine: Pegasus 800 – 120kW/160hp
Fuel type: 95 unleaded
Dry weight: 265kg/585lb
Vehicle Height: 1900mm
Wheelbase: 2900mm
Front track: 1800mm
Rear track: 1745mm
Rotor diameter: 5285mm
Fuel capacity: 60 litres (16 gallons)
Ground to air transition time: 3.0 seconds
Ground top speed: 120km/h
Flight data:
Take-off and landing distance: 0 metres
Max air speed: 160km/h/100mph
Max cruise speed: 130km/h/80mph
Max range: 420km
Max flight time: 3 hours
Max flight altitude: 1800m/5900ft (est)
Useful payload: 101kg/222 pounds
Fuel economy: 20 litres per hour
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Related: Aussie flying car actually flies
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