Volante the Flying Car

K.P. Rice

This time the future of the flying car looks a little more possible, says an inventor and engineer.

In the past our imaginations have been stimulated by the appearance of new flying cars in aviation journals and Sunday supplements. Some have shown great promise, like Molt Taylor's Aerocar, others have lacked various necessities. All have faded from view without ever having an opportunity to explore the contribution that such a machine could make to the general aviation spectrum.

The Volante is another candidate for your attention, but, in contrast to many past efforts by others, it is both a sound car and a quality aircraft. Furthermore, it avoids the impasse that has stopped all such programs in the past. This has been the huge production investment that financial people have not been willing to provide for a machine of unproven, even if promising, worth. In contrast, the Volante flying car will be offered to home builders in kit form for their own assembly and individualistic touches. The customers would be the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) members and followers. This organization has provided, under FAA guidance and sanction, plus Paul Poberezny's watchful eye, more home-builts in the last 40 years than the leading light plane builder, Cessna. This year over 10,000 kits will be sold to enthusiastic builders...