‘World’s first’ commercial flying car to be showcased in Kuwait

The ” world’s first commercial flying car” PAL-V Liberty will be displayed in Kuwait this month, its manufacturer has confirmed.

Dutch aircraft manufacturer PAL-V’s production model was first unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year.

The vehicle will make its Middle East debut at the Dutch Embassy in Kuwait on November 12, a statement said.

PAL-V is currently finalising its last steps of pre-production certification with compliance demonstration.

“It takes a lot of testing to prove that the PAL-V Liberty complies with the regulations,” said Mike Stekelenburg, PAL-V’s chief engineer.

“We deliberately chose to design, engineer and manufacture our flying car with proven instead of immature technologies, complying with existing road and air regulations (EASA and FAA). This approach focuses on safety and enables a realistic and imminent product delivery date.”

Since the Geneva Motor Show, the overall interest towards the vehicle by customers and investors “has been beyond expectations”, the company said.

“In recent years, many government institutes and private persons in the Middle East region expressed particular interest in the PAL-V Liberty’s capabilities and advantages,” said Ir Robert Dingemanse, CEO of PAL-V.

“It opens the door to a new form of mobility, enabling a more effective policing, border control, coast guard and first aid.”

According to Dingemanse, the potential in the GCC is exceptional.

“It’s the perfect region to demonstrate the versatile employment of the PAL-V Liberty,” he said.

Once full certification is granted in 2020, PAL-V will hand over the keys of the PAL-V Liberty to the first customers, the statement added.

According to the company’s website, the PAL-V Liberty Pioneer can be booked with a non-refundable fee of $25,000, while the PAL-V Liberty Sport can been booked with a non-refundable fee of $10,000.