The incident happened shortly after jury selection for the hush-money trial was completed
After years of testing, the PAL-V company aims to pip its competitors to the post. It is poised to start production on what they bill as a world first: a three-wheeled gyrocopter-type vehicle which can carry two people and will be certified for use on roads and in the skies.
"This kind of dream has been around for 100 years now. When the first airplane was invented, people already thought 'How can I make that driveable on the road?'," chief marketing officer Markus Hess told AFP.
The PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle) firm, based in Raamsdonksveer in the Netherlands, is aiming to deliver its first flying car to its first customer by the end of 2018.
The lucky owner will need both a driving licence and a pilot's licence. But with the keys in hand, the owner will be able to drive to an airfield for the short take-off, and after landing elsewhere drive to the destination in a "door-to-door" experience.
But final assembly on the PAL-V will start in October, with the company seeking to be the first to go into commercial production.
The PAL-V uses normal unleaded petrol for its two 100-horsepower engines, and can fly 400 to 500 kilometres at an altitude of up to 3,500 metres. On the road, it has a top speed of around 170 kilometres an hour.
In 2019, the company expects to produce between 50 and 100 vehicles, before ramping up to "quite a few hundred" in 2020.
It won't be cheap. The first edition, the PAL-V Liberty, costs ?499,000 ($599,000), while the slightly cheaper PAL-V Liberty Sport, to be made next, has a price tag of ?299,000.
PAL-V was founded in 2007 by Robert Dingemanse and pilot John Bakker. - AFP
The incident happened shortly after jury selection for the hush-money trial was completed
MS Dhoni's cameo in vain as five-time champions dealt thrid loss but hold on to third place in the standings
Roads and Transport Authority has been working round the clock to carry out maintenance work
Through this collaboration, Partisia Blockchain Foundation is set to discover and support the next generation of Web3 innovators
Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi reiterated the GCC's firm position supporting Palestinian people's right to self-determination and establishment of an independent state
As part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, food, shelter tents, and basic supplies were provided to Palestinian families
The South African is tied with Denmark’s Nicolai Kristensen at the halfway stage of the tournament
The neighbourhood around the consulate was closed after the 60-year-old entered the premises, claiming to be armed with an explosive vest