The Silicon Valley-based startup Kitty Hawk, reportedly backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, on Monday introduced its flying car prototype, a 'personal flying machine,' that will be available for sale later this year.
As you can see in the video, the craft, propelled by eight rotors, takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter. It is said to weigh about 220 pounds (100 kilogrammes) and flies at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kph) and can hover at 15 feet (4.5 meters) high.
"Our mission is to make the dream of personal flight a reality. We believe when everyone has access to personal flight, a new, limitless world of opportunity will open up to them," Kitty Hawk said in a statement.
"Today we're announcing our first prototype of The Flyer, a personal flying machine that will become available for sale by the end of 2017."
"The Flyer operates in the FAR 103 Ultralight Category of US FAA regulations," the company writes.
The company defines the craft as "a new, all-electric aircraft," which is "safe, tested and legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas" under US federal regulations for ultralight aircraft. Moreover, pilots require no license, only two hours' training is all that is needed.
Kitty Hawk president Sebastian Thrun, a Stanford University computer science professor also tweeted.
Changing the future of personal transportation. Join us @kittyhawkcorp to get information about #theFlyer prototype https://t.co/mbX5Z0WpTo
— Sebastian Thrun (@SebastianThrun) April 24, 2017
As an introductory offer, the company announced a three-year "membership" for $100 to be placed on a waiting list and to get a $2,000 discount on the price of the new transporter.
The price of the flying machine will, however be announced later this year.