A VEHICLE described as the world’s first flying car has paid a visit to Cumbria.

The Liberty, developed by Dutch company PAL-V, uses gyroplane technology to take to the skies – but it is also licensed for use on Europe’s roads.

To fly, it undergoes a short transformation where wings and propellers deploy from folded positions on the car.

It is also in the process of achieving certification for use by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, meaning it will legally be able to take to the skies. The final phase is compliance demonstration, before flying cars become a reality for customers.

The first models are expected to be delivered to customers next year – at a cost of €300,000, or £260,524.

One of the men behind the Liberty is Andy Wall, who was born in Morecambe and was responsible for the vehicle visiting Kirkbride Airfield in Cumbria. He described some of the features of the vehicle and the work that had gone into it.

Andy said: “It’s not using anything that’s not tried and tested. It needs a runway of just 180 metres and it has a range in the air of 300 miles.

“Initial drawings were completed in 2009 and the first flights were in 2012. Once the approval for road provision was granted in December 2020, the EASA could create a certification for the flying car.

“Some people ask why we’re using petrol when things, especially in the car world, are moving towards battery and electric.

“But one kilo of petrol equates to 37 kilos of battery for the same performance, it’s simply too heavy. Until the technology comes – and it will – it’s just not feasible.”

Andy learnt to fly helicopter and aeroplanes in the late 80s, but while flying a helicopter out of Carlisle airport, he saw something unusual.

The sighting spawned an interest in gyroplanes that pushed him to work with PAL-V

He explained: “I was actually flying a helicopter at Carlisle and a gyroplane came in.

“I came across Chris Jones at Kirkbride and he took me up in one. I was fascinated by its simplicity. It’s raw, it’s got very few moving parts.

“That was what got me interested in working with gyroplanes for sure. Gyroplanes pre-date the helicopter by 10 years – but until PAL-V came along and developed this, they were stuck at a very small size.

“We said we will put the money forward and the EASA have created a category which means they can be bigger and heavier.”

Andy and the Liberty were fresh from filming for Secrets of the Supercars on Sky, and had attended an event in London with dozens of hypercars.