Türkiye’s aviation and automotive industries marked a milestone on May 8 when the AirCar, the country’s first domestically developed flying auto, completed its inaugural crewed flight in Kocaeli province. Built over nearly seven years by engineer Eray Altunbozar in his Bilişim Vadisi (Informatics Valley) workshop, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle joins only five companies worldwide operating in this emerging field.
Altunbozar explained that initial concept work began around 2018, with the team waiting for battery and regulatory technologies to mature before advancing to manned testing. “The last four years have been very intense,” he said. “A month ago we started crewed flights with our two-seater model, capable of carrying 200–220 kg over a 50 km range.” A single-seater prototype has already undergone uncrewed test flights, and future trials aim to extend the AirCar’s range beyond 50 km.
Designed for short urban hops, the AirCar could cross Istanbul’s Bosporus without needing to climb to high altitudes, Altunbozar noted, and might one day ferry passengers or cargo to the Princes’ Islands or other remote regions. While fully autonomous systems are installed, current regulations require a human pilot and joystick controls; operators will need around 30 hours of flight training.
The decision to go fully electric anticipates rapid improvements in battery density, Altunbozar added. “We could switch to fuel-based power for 150 km range, but by the time we enter the market in a few years, battery technology will have advanced even further. We believe electric is the right choice.”
Air taxis and flying cars remain tightly regulated worldwide urban air-mobility pioneer Volocopter even failed to secure flight approval during last year’s Paris Olympics. Nevertheless, industry watchers see eVTOL vehicles as a solution to surface-traffic congestion and a means of connecting difficult-to-reach areas. With the AirCar now airborne, Türkiye positions itself at the forefront of this futuristic transport revolution.
