The flying vehicle of the Japanese company SkyDrive.

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Toshikazu Sato / AP / SIPA

Two years after its creation, the company Skydrive announced on Friday that it had successfully carried out the test flight of one of its flying cars.

The SD-03 flight demonstration, with one person on board, took place in public at the Toyota test center.

This was a first in Japan.

The single-seater aircraft flew over the 10,000 m² site for about 4 minutes in the morning, according to a statement from the Japanese company.

The person on board was responsible for controlling the flying vehicle, but the stability and safety of the movement were ensured by the on-board computer, reports CNN.

Specialists monitored the flight data from the ground, so that they could intervene when needed.

The Japanese company Skydrive made the first demonstration of its flying car 🛫



Commercialization in 2023 pic.twitter.com/Wpp9f0uBfP

- Views (@views_mag) September 1, 2020

Other tests to come

The SD-03 is described by its creators as “the smallest electric vertical take-off and landing flying car in the world”.

Skydrive sees it as "a new means of transport for the near future".

The compact vehicle measures 4 m by 4 and is 2 m in height.

On the ground, it does not take up more space than two traditional cars.

The car is propelled by four units each supplying the electric motors of two rotors.

These eight engines are "a way to ensure safety in an emergency situation during flight," according to Skydrive.

The designers now intend to conduct multiple additional tests under varied flight conditions in order to improve the performance of the vehicle.

The company also aims to enter into the "specifications" of the Japanese authorities.

Skydrive hopes to obtain “before the end of 2020” official authorization to fly his car beyond the Toyota test center.

No sale price has yet been communicated for the vehicle.

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