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The West Coast may soon become a massive racetrack for flying cars.
Just days after the US federal government took a major step toward legalizing the versatile craft, inventor Dezso Molnar has announced the start of a revolutionary racing series.
The inaugural flying car race is set to take place next year, and so far, 22 teams have been invited.
The proposed races are an attempt to boost the development of this technology, using competition to bring innovators together. Pictured above is the Maverick, one of the craft invited to participate in Flying Car Racing
FLYING CARS INCH CLOSER TO LEGALITYThe Transition was recently granted an exemption by the FAA.
This has folding w ings so it can drive on the ground like a car, or take to the sky.
The exemption allows it to be classified as a 'light-sport' craft.
These aircraft weigh roughly 1,300 pounds and have fixed landing gear.
They seat a maximum of two people, including the pilot.
And to operate them, one must have a sport pilot certificate, which requires just 20 hours of training.
Revealed in a series of interviews with Gizmag, the proposed races are an attempt to boost the development of this technology, using competition to bring innovators together.
The Flying Car Racing series will be divided among three categories of vehicles: radio controlled, electric, and unlimited flying cars.
Radio controlled vehicles are unma nned and guided by a human operator, while the others are both manned.
In the course, the vehicles must fly and drive 219 miles from California's El Mirage Lake, a dry lakebed, to the planned El Dorado Droneport in Nevada, near Boulder City.
The lakebed aims to provide a safe environment for high speed ground testing, as well as take-off and landing.
Here, pilots can drive their vehicles as fast as they want to, but must abide by the speed limit on the streets.
In the course, the vehicles must fly and drive 219 miles from California's El Mirage Lake, a dry lakebed, to the planned El Dorado Droneport in Nevada, near Boulder City
'It's a 200-mile (322-km) course through the desert, the classic Route 66 on the ground, and there's Class G airspace and about 15 airports in between,' Molnar told Gizmag.
'So if somebody has an ultralight aircraft, and it's a flying car, they will be able to fly their aircraft over completely unpopulated areas and compete between those two spots.'
The competition so far has just three requirements.
Inventor Dezso Molnar has announced the start of a revolutionary racing series for flying cars. Pictured above is the Terrafugia, one of the craft invited to participate in the races. This vehicle has folding wings so it can drive like a car, or take to the skies
All participants must be able to legally operate their flying cars both on the ground and in the air along the designated route. The Transition is pictured above
All participants must be able to legally operate their flying cars both on the ground and in the air along the designated route.
If they're not street legal, they may only take place in 'restricted trials' and above the El Mirage.
And, radio-controlled vehicles will be required to be raced within the visual range of the operator both on land and in the air.
The many flying cars vary in design, from gyrocopters to lightweight planes with folding wings. The Aeromobil is pictured above
There are multiple airports along the route, and Molnar explains that they will split up the trips, alternating between driving and flying.
Among the craft invited to race are the Maverick, Caravella Aerospace's Caravellair, the Aeromobil, and Terrafugia's Transition.
The many flying cars vary in design, from gyrocopters to lightweight planes with folding wings.
If they're not street legal, they may only take place in 'restricted trials' and above the El Mirage. The Switchblade flying trike is pictured above, in flight mode, with the Pal-V is pictured left, in gyroplane mode
The flying car races were announced just days after the US federal government took a major step toward legalizing the versatile craft. A craft from Caravella Aerospace is pictured above
It's been a big week for flying cars, and for Terrafugia in particular.
The Transition was recently granted an exemption by the FAA, allowing it to be classified as a 'light-sport' craft, a ccording to the Washington Post.
These aircraft weigh roughly 1,300 pounds and have fixed landing gear.
They seat a maximum of two people, including the pilot.
And to operate them, one must have a sport pilot certificate, which requires just 20 hours of training.
Source: The car race that will REALLY take off: California to get 219 mile circuit for flying cars to compete
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