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"Airbus 44XL" perfoming some rejected take offs at Shannon Airport, 13th April 2019 in crosswind weather conditions.
"Airbus 37 X-Ray Bravo" conducting some cross wind flight testing at Shannon Airport 1st December 2021.
Departing Dublin Airport 26th May 2016 to conduct Wifi connectivity tests over certain European points, this particulary test flight routed out as far as Mumich and return to Dublin.
Yes—2025 is shaping up to be the year flying car hybrids begin to leave the realm of sci-fi and enter early real-world deployment, though public test drives are still limited. Several companies are actively developing and showcasing roadable aircraft and eVTOL hybrids that blend highway driving with aerial mobility.
Hybrid Flying Vehicles in 2025
•XPENG AeroHT’s “Land Aircraft Carrier” -- This futuristic six-wheeled van houses a two-seater quadcopter that deploys from the rear. It’s designed for both highway driving and short-range urban flights. XPENG has begun building “flying camps” with takeoff platforms in China, and over 3,000 units have been preordered at around $275,000.
•Alef Aeronautics Model A -- A fully electric flying car certified for road and air use. It’s designed to drive like a regular car and take off vertically. Alef has received over 2,800 preorders, and the vehicle is expected to be available in limited release soon.
•Joby Aviation S4 -- While not a hybrid car, Joby’s eVTOL aircraft is piloted and undergoing test flights in major cities. It’s part of the broader urban air mobility push, with plans for flying taxi services.
•Urban Aeronautics CityHawk -- A hydrogen-powered VTOL vehicle aimed at medical transport and urban commuting. It’s still in testing but represents a different approach to hybrid aerial mobility.
Can You Test Drive One?
•Not quite yet for the general public. Most models are still in prototype or early production phases, with regulatory hurdles and infrastructure (like vertiports) being built out.
•XPENG and Alef are closest to offering consumer-ready vehicles, but current access is limited to investors, early adopters, or demonstration events.
The Road Ahead
Urban air mobility is transitioning from concept to reality, with cities planning for airborne corridors and miniature airports. The dream of a highway-to-sky hybrid vehicle is no longer far-fetched—it’s a matter of infrastructure, certification, and affordability.
[Sources: ScienceandSpaceNews.com, WebProNews.com, and ScienceNewsToday.org. Also, "Will 2025 be the Year Flying Cars Take Off?" by Nik Berg at Hagerty.com; and "Flying Cars: How Close Are We in 2025?" by Eirwen Williams at LeftLaneNews.com]
"Airbus 37 X-Ray Bravo" conducting some cross wind flight testing at Shannon Airport 1st December 2021.
Cognizant that NASA had ceased operations, Homer rigged the sofa with coil springs from a 1968 Chevy Malibu. However, Mathilda refused to pull the lever for fight testing. "Are you crazy? You'll put your eye out!" she cried.
Homer lowered his flight goggles and replied "Honey, I sold the Bentley and bought us cemetery plots in Arkansas."
"Soowee!" shrieked Mathilda as she yanked the lever back.
Strobist: AB1600 with 60X30 softbox camera right. AB800 with Softlighter II camera left. Triggered by Cybersync.
An F-35A takes off on a test flight at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Feb 18, 2016. Six operational test and evaluation F-35s and more than 85 Airmen of the 31st TES travelled to Mountain Home AFB to conduct the first simulated deployment test of the F-35A, specifically to execute three key initial operational capability mission sets: suppression of enemy air defenses, close air support and air interdiction. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)
When it first entered service in 1941, the Hawker Typhoon was the first RAF fighter capable of exceeding 400 mph.
Originally intended as a replacement for the Hurricane and Spitfire, the Typhoon's climb rate and high-altitude performance proved disappointing. However, at low level it was the only aircraft capable of catching the new Luftwaffe Fw-190 and so it initially entered service as a low-altitude interceptor.
It went on to become a night-time intruder and long-range fighter before it moved into the role for which it became famous - ground-attack. Fitted with cannons and rockets it became one of the most successful aircraft in this role during WWII. Over 3,300 were eventually built.
However, this particular airframe did not have a spectacular wartime career. Instead, after just 40 minutes' flight-time in the UK, it was shipped to Wright Field in Dayton, OH., for evaluation trials by the USAAF where it underwent just nine hours of flight-testing. It was donated to the RAF Museum in 1968.
Under the wing is a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, which has nothing to do with the Typhoon, which was powered by a Sabre. The Griffon, the last significant Rolls-Royce piston engine, was particularly successful in powering late-model Spitfires, giving some the ability to catch German V-1 flying bombs. This particular example of the engine, an Mk 57A, came from a post-war Avro Shackleton maritime patrol aircraft. Over 8,100 were built and the last RAF examples were only retired in 1991!