Kitty Hawk Flyer Google founder Larry Page’s flying car flies, soon to be ready for purchase

Google founder Larry Page financially backs a company called Kitty Hawk, a flying car company and the company has now released the first video of its prototype aircraft. Christened the Kitty Hawk Flyer, the all-electric plane is designed to operate even above the surface of water. What makes the equation sweeter is that if you can buy one, you won't need a pilot's license to fly! The company Kitty Hawk claims that users/ pilots will be able to learn to fly the craft in minutes, although the number of minutes hasn't been disclosed yet.

While the version available right now isn't open to consumer selling, a version open to customers will be available soon. There is a catch though. The customer version can only be used for recreational or water purpose only, which rules out any usage over or within cities.

Watch video here:

The aircraft features two tubular pontoons and two rotors on each of the four sides of the machine. The pilot or the operator sits on top of the craft and going by the images, it's a joystick that operates all drive controls, similar to what one sees in BMW cars. We know that by now you're thinking what happens if you lose balance and topple over? The company says it's got that covered in the form of a net over the propellers so that you don't go grinding into the fans. Assuring? You decide.

Available information states that the machine is capable of reaching speeds of up to about 40 km/h, which is quite a lot considering it's over the surface of water.

The next thing you're thinking about is price and the bad news is that isn't out. However, Kitty Hawk is offering a $100 three year membership idea. While this will not guarantee controls of that joystick you're thinking about, it will give you a priority status on the waiting list for the plane and a host of add-on services along with a $ 2,000 discount on the price of the machine.

Can you buy it?

Well if you are in the USA, you can hopefully sometime in 2018 as production is planned for end of 2017. Outside US, the company has no plans of exporting the aircraft and there is no word from the company yet on how much the aircraft will cost.

So as long as Kitty Hawk sells this machine in the discussed format, it'll remain a recreational machine only. Going above that and to make it an urban transportation solution will take a while and a lot of certifications to pass through.

Source: Kitty Hawk Flyer Google founder Larry Page's flying car flies, soon to be ready for purchase