Flying Cars are almost upon us, says plane manufacturer Airbus

FLYING CARS could be just around the corner, thanks to an ambitious new project by multinational plane manufacturer Airbus.

The date predicted in Back to the Future Part II might've been closer than we thoughtUNIVERSAL PICTURES • AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT

The date predicted in Back to the Future Part II might've been closer than we thought

Back to the Future Part II , but it might've been closer than we thought.

According to an article published in Airbus Group’s corporate magazine, we could see flying cars in the very near future.

Plane manufacturer Airbus is hard at work on a flying car – codenamed Vahana.

The project is being handled by Airbus' innovation group, A3, based in Silicon Valley, California.

The flying vehicle, currently dubbed CityAirbus, has "multiple propellers" and is believed to "resemble a small drone in its design".

The CityAirbus is expected to have a design similar to a conventional droneAIRBUS

The CityAirbus is expected to have a design similar to a conventional drone

It is believed to cost as much as a standard land-based taxi – but it would fly at low-levels above the city to reach its destination.

"Airbus Group is harnessing its experience to make the dream of all commuters and travellers come true one day: to fly over traffic jams at the push of a button," the firm claims.

A3 has been working on Project Vahana – a name that stems from the Sanskrit word meaning “that which carries" – since February.

Airbus' concept images around the project show the flying taxis hovering above the cityscape AIRBUS

Airbus' concept images around the project show the flying taxis hovering above the cityscape

It hopes to fly its first prototypes by the tail-end of 2017.

Many of the technologies needed, such as batteries, motors and avionics are most of the way there

Rodin Lyasoff, A3

While most of the details around the CityAirbus are being kept under wraps, Airbus promises that it is all "feasible."

However the Blagnac-based aeroplane manufacturer admits that the technology for autonomous flying vehicles isn't quite ready yet.

A3 project executive Rodin Lyasoff said: "Many of the technologies needed, such as batteries, motors and avionics are most of the way there.

"We believe that global demand for this category of aircraft can support fleets of millions of vehicles worldwide."

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