Kitty Hawk backed by Google’s Larry Page reveals flying car prototype

A Silicon Valley “flying car” startup reportedly backed by Google co-founder Larry Page released a video of its Kitty Hawk prototype and announced plans for deliveries of a “personal flying machine” this year.

“Our mission is to make the dream of personal flight a reality. We believe when everyone has access to personal flight, a new, limitless world of opportunity will open up to them,” said a statement on the website of the Kitty Hawk company, based in Google’s home town of Mountain View, California.

“Today we’re announcing our first prototype of The Flyer, a personal flying machine that will become available for sale by the end of 2017.” The video showed the aircraft — with two pontoons and a spider web-like platform — taking off from a lake at an undisclosed location and hovering above the water, where it is meant to be used.

The craft, propelled by eight rotors, takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter. It is said to weigh about 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and fly at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kph).

The company describes the Flyer as “a new, all-electric aircraft,” which is “safe, tested and legal to operate in the United States in …read more