Flying Car Startup Expands, Teams With Airport Owner

Flying car startup Pal-V and Forum Group, owner of Breda International Airport, signed an agreement to establish an assembly and delivery center for the flying vehicles at the airport.

The airport in the south of the Netherlands would be the first European airport to host a dedicated Pal-V assembly and delivery center.

Credit: Pal-V

Forum Group had developed a strategy to convert the airfield into a mobility innovation hub.

The Pal-V (personal air and land vehicle) vehicle Liberty is certified to drive on public roads and expects its aviation certification this year.

The Pal-V Pioneer Edition is powered by e-fuels and hybrid fuel technologies.

The new airport facility would become the Pal-V home for final assembly, customer demonstrations, flight training and pre-delivery inspections.

"We are excited to partner with Breda International Airport, a location that perfectly aligns with our vision of integrating air mobility into existing transportation networks," said Robert Dingemanse, CEO of Pal-V. "As we edge closer to finalizing certification, this facility will be crucial in ensuring that our customers experience the highest standard of service and support once they receive their Pal-V Liberty FlyDriving vehicles."

Pal-V is in the process of completing a funding package with international and Dutch investors.

Related:Flying Car Startup Selling 100 Vehicles to Dubai Company

Customers have been training at Breda International Airport since 2019.

Most reservations have been made for professional use including first responders, policing and border control while the first customers are private individuals filling the first three years of planned production, according to the company.

Earlier this year, Pal-V received an order for 100 of its flying vehicles from Aviterra, a Dubai company that plans to bring the vehicles to the Middle East and Africa.

Customers would be able to drive the vehicles themselves or use Aviterra's services, according to the company.

The 10-year-old Netherlands startup had already opened a showroom dedicated to flying cars in Munich, Germany.

Loggia Investment, the investment arm of Aviterra, is also an investor in Pal-V. 

The flying vehicle differs from others coming to market around the world. Those are primarily VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles, which do not require a runway since they take off vertically, and most are electric.

The Pal-V Liberty is a gyroplane, which has relatively small, fixed wings and a rear propeller that pushes it forward, causing a rotor atop the vehicle to spin. 

The vehicle, somewhat of a cross between a helicopter and a plane, requires an airfield to take off and land and is powered by a 200-horsepower engine.

Related:Flying Car Company Plans Deliveries in 2024; Showroom Open

The two-person vehicle has a land range of 800 miles with a maximum speed of 100 mph and a flight range of up to 300 miles at a maximum altitude of 11,000 feet. 

Transformation from road driving to flying takes five minutes, according to the company.

Pal-V has different versions of its Liberty flying car, including a sport edition and pioneer edition, which is highly personalized.

Retail showrooms for aerial vehicles are already in the works in the U.S. with others on the way.

For example, Aeroauto Global in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, has two EAV showroom locations planned in Florida, one in Hollywood and another in Palm Beach Gardens. It is also planning a showroom in Texas at the Greenport International Airport and Technology Center in Emerald Island.

The Pal-V showroom serves as a platform for buyers or investors. The vehicle is expected to cost in the range of $500,000.

Pal-V started road testing in 2020 with its 200-horsepower engine. The vehicle is targeted for individuals, taxi services, observation and inspection flight services.