No this is not the DeLorean from Back to the Future. This is the PAL-V Liberty. 

It all started after flying and driving the test prototypes in 2012. That is when the PAL-V started the design of the Liberty, its commercial product.

Recently, the Liberty passed the stringent European road admission tests and it is allowed on the streets with an official license plate. This completed a rigorous and extensive drive test programme carried out on test tracks since February 2020. From high-speed ovals, brake and emission tests to noise pollution testing, the PAL-V is  ready for the roads.

Mike Stekelenburg, CTO of PAL-V, explained how he experienced this journey. He said: “With the memories in mind of fly and drive testing our proof of concept, the PAL-V One, I was really looking forward to testing the Liberty. We have been cooperating with the road authorities for many years to reach this milestone. The excitement you feel in the team is huge. It was very challenging to make a “folded aircraft” pass all road admission tests.” “For me, the trick in successfully making flying car is to ensure that the design complies with both air and road regulations. I feel the energy and motivation in our team to push hard for the last few milestones and get the Liberty certified for flying too.”

As the PAL-V will be undergoing endurance testing for the coming months, people can witness the PAL-V on the European roads from now on. It will be a head turner for sure.

Hans Joore, test-driver of the PAL-V, added: “When I fired-up the PAL-V for the first time I really got goosebumps! All the effort that we put into it came together at that crucial moment. Hearing the vehicle come to life was just magnificent and driving it was great. It is very smooth and responsive to the steering and with a weight of just 660 kg it accelerates really well. The overall experience is like a sportscar. It feels sensational.”

Since 2015 the PAL-V Liberty design has been also going through aviation certification with EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency). Finalisation is expected in 2022.