On 14 June, French aviator Bruno Vezzolia completed a historic trip across the English Chanel in a flying car. Flying in his appropriately named vehicle Pegase (Pegasus), Vezzolia took off from an abandoned military runway at Ambleteuse, France, and successfully landed 36 miles later in Dover, England.
Vezzolia, owner of para motor supply company R.ultralight, shared a post from French aviation magazine ‘Aviation et Pilote’ of his flight.
Speaking to Reuters before the historic attempt, Vezzoli said:
I would say that the biggest risk, just like with any engine-powered machine, would be a breakdown. Usually you land on the ground, but in this case we would have to do a sea-landing.
Luckily Vezzoli didn’t need to do any emergency landings, as his vehicle proved just as reliable and steadfast as the Pegasus in Greek mythology. Unlike a flying horse, this flying machine took the form of a single-seat dune buggy equipped with a propeller for paragliding and a giant parachute.
It was designed and created by French entrepreneur Jerome Dauffy, who was inspired to create a flying machine after reading Jules Verne’s ‘Around the world in 80 days’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiqF0KgPVJw
Unlike a traditional microlight, the Pegase is a modular vehicle that can be used on the road and in the air. That means it is able to fly and take off from unprepared terrain, freeing itself from airfields and road infrastructures. With a maximum road speed of 100km/h (62 mph), it can reach 70km/h (43 mph) in the air.
Dauffy and his company Vaylon see the Pegase having many uses including leisure aviation, reconnaissance and rescue, and humanitarian aid.
This flight alone certainly put the Pegase on the map.
Comments