Airspeeder Mk3 Flying Racing Car Is Now Ready to Race

The world's first flying racing car is finally unveiled and ready to take over the skies to race. This first of a kind car will be showcased in an upcoming racing series that serves as a technical test-bed and feeder series for the manned version in 2022, Airspeeder says.

Named as Airspeeder Mk3, a full grid of these remotely-operated electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) are currently being manufactured in the HQ of Airspeeder and Alauda in Adelaide, South Australia. Airspeeder reports that about ten Mk3 electric flying racing cars will be produced this year.

But before the start of the international racing, the final behind-closed-doors will happen in Australia. According to Airspeeder, the Mk3 races will provide important information about vehicle dynamics, performance, safety, and powertrain technology that is crucial for developing the Mk4 manned Airspeeder flying racing car.

The First of Its Kind

Vijay Pattni of Top Gear said that the Airspeeder Mk3 is technically not a car as it lacks the mechanisms needed to drive it on the road. However, literature around it identifies it as a car.

Airspeeder Mk3 is a full-sized remote-control eVTOL that is built for aerial motorsport. It is expected that the Airspeeder series will showcase more wondrous things in the future as it slowly makes the Back to the Future II concept of cars come true.

MailOnline reported that the Airspeeder Mk3 is being developed and manufactured by a team from various aerospace, automotive, and motorsport technology. This includes Mclaren, Babcock Aviation, Boeing, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, and Brabham.

The group will announce further details of the craft in the coming months, such as the pilots, location, and the race track.

"These remotely-piloted races will present to the world for the first time close-quarter flying circuit racing at speeds of more than 120km/h," they said.

Airspeeder wrote that they are sure that Airspeeder Mk3 will make history in showing for the first time a full-scale vision of an electric flying racing car.

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Technical Details of Mk3

Airspeeder Mk3 is a giant leap towards electric flying car development. It will provide crucial information that can be used to improve the manned Mk4 that is set to be released in 2022. For now, here are the technical details about Mk3:

Safety Systems- According to Motorsport, the craft will be controlled by an expert remote operator and include L:iDAR and Radar collision avoidance systems to create a 'virtual forcefield' around it to ensure close but safe racing. It will also be using a carbon fiber frame and fuselage to add vital safety precautions that a full carbon fiber monocoque body will enhance in the Mk4 vehicle.
Powertrain- Airspeeder wrote that they have significantly improved the design from Mk2 by increasing the vehicle's power up to 95% but only 50% in addition to its weight. The developers said that it could fly over a speed of 120km/h.
Maneuverability and Stability- Airspeeder further wrote that the craft is in an 'octocopter X formation' that will help pilots maneuvering the vehicle make sharp hairpin style turns like a Formula 1 vehicle but with the added ability to be able to move vertically.
Rapid Pit Stops- Rapid pit stops were also included to be facilitated by Alauda's engineers. They have developed an innovative 'side and lock' system to be first used on Mk3 vehicles, which will help in the rapid removal and replacement of batteries when it is on the ground.