Aridge plans UAE launch of dual-mode flying car for consumers

Chinese manufacturer Aridge plans to bring its Land Aircraft Carrier to the UAE market as a consumer product combining a road vehicle with a detachable electric aircraft. The dual-mode system allows owners to drive on roads and deploy a two-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for short flights.

Product structure and operation#

The Land Aircraft Carrier consists of two modules: a six-wheeled road vehicle and a two-seat eVTOL aircraft housed in its rear compartment. The separation and reconnection process is automated through a one-touch operation using seven systems and more than 1,000 parts, according to Tan Wang, co-founder and vice-president of Aridge. The vehicle opens its rear compartment and releases the aircraft using a specialised air suspension system that adjusts to different surfaces. After a flight, cameras identify the aircraft and guide the road vehicle towards it for autonomous docking, with the suspension adjusting height to align the modules. The reconnection process takes four to five minutes.

Storage and pre-orders#

The flying module can be stored inside the road vehicle, allowing owners to park the combined unit in their own parking space subject to applicable parking and vehicle requirements. This removes the need to rent hangar space or keep an aircraft at an airport. Aridge has received around 7,000 pre-orders globally, with approximately 600 from the GCC market, Wang said.

Certification requirements#

The aircraft requires type certification from China's Civil Aviation Administration before seeking validation through the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority for legal operation in the country. Owning the vehicle does not automatically permit owners to take off and fly: the aircraft must first receive aviation approvals, and rules governing individual operators and flight locations in the UAE are still being worked out.