Dutch company PAL-V announced that its Liberty model has received a permit from the Dutch Motor Vehicle Administration, which allows it to travel on public roads in the EU.
The PAL-V company was founded in 2001, and the first prototypes took off in 2012. Vehicle weight - 664 kg, maximum takeoff weight - 910 kg. The Liberty can carry two people. In ground mode, it is driven by a 100-horsepower motor. At the same time, the operational indicators are by no means as bad as one might assume: it takes only 9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km /h, the maximum speed is limited at around 160 km /h, and the power reserve is as much as 1315 kilometers.
A 200 hp engine is used for flight. In the air, the rotorcraft can accelerate to 180 km /h, although the comfortable cruising speed is 140–160 km /h. The flight range depends on the take-off weight and is 400–500 km. At the same time, the manufacturer also includes in these data the ability to drive 100–150 kilometers after landing. Fuel tank capacity - 100 liters. You can refuel gasoline from AI-95 and higher.
It only takes 5-10 minutes to switch to flight mode and back, and you don't even need a special tool. And this vehicle has enough runway length of 330 meters, so almost any airfield will do. Note that while the PAL-V Liberty cannot legally take off. The work on issuing the aviation certificate of the European safety agency Easa started in 2015, the company expects to receive it in 2022. More than 1200 test reports must be completed before the last 150 hours of flight testing. After that, deliveries to customers will begin.
According to PAL-V, the company has already received 30 pre-orders for the purchase of Liberty. The base price tag is $ 399,000, and the Liberty Pioneer Edition, captured in the pictures, will cost $ 599,000.
