Milner AirCar

Specs

• Type: Road-able aircraft
• Manufacturer: Milner Motors
• Seats: 4
• Doors: 4
• Empty Vehicle Weight: 1800 lbs
• Max Gross Weight: 3000 lbs
• Dimensions (Air Mode): 200" long, 28 ft wingspan, 66" tall
• Dimensions (Ground Mode): 200" long, 84" wide, 78" tall
• Engine Power (Air Mode): Dual 160HP ducted fans
• Engine Power (Ground Mode): 40 HP engine
• Cruise Speed (Air Mode; 75% Power): 172 KTAS
• Range @ 75% Power (Air Mode): 900 nm
• Maximum Speed (Ground Mode): 85 MPH
• Wheel Base (Air Mode): 128"
• Wheel Base (Ground Mode): 166"
• Front Shoulder and Head Room: 56" and 45"
• Rear Shoulder and Head Room: 54" and 43"

The Manufactures Says

“The patented Milner AirCar will be a completely self-contained four-door, four to five-seat advanced-composite road-able aircraft (flying Car) with foldable main wing in the rear of the vehicle and a canard in the front.”

Overview

Founded in 2005, Washington and Vancouver-based Milner Motors is backed by James Milner, a former United Airlines pilot with a solid technical background, and Chris Milner, an instrument-rated pilot.

Their AirCar is at the very early stages, as they’re currently putting together a non-flying prototype. The wings fold into a 7 ft by 6 ft box that contains both ducted fans as well as vertical stabilizers.

What We Like

The price. Not that we’re thrilled with an early-stage estimate of $450,000, but at least Milner is being realistic. And that, we like. Call it a breath of fresh air.

The cockpit. It’s a computer simulation of the dashboard, but holy hell it looks fantastic. The only disappointment is the steering wheel—it looks rather pedestrian set against two jazzy screens featuring instruments and navigation.

The kit plans. We’re reading that Milner has plans to sell the AirCar initially as a build-it-yourself kit until they have federal certification to sell a fully-built vehicle. We’ve seen this before and if this is what it takes to build the necessary revenue, so be it (unless the kit price is $450,000).

What We Don’t Like

The fuel. It’s hard to knock them for plans to use conventional gasoline, but this is a futurecars site, concerned with the reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.