SkyAngels Air Ambulance is a UK-based provider of emergency medical transport services. It announced a partnership with PAL-V, the world's first flying car. This is to support their emergency care needs.
The charity recognises the need for fast and reliable transport solutions. This is needed to get doctors to hospitals across the country quickly. With the PAL-V Liberty, SkyAngels can ensure their rapid response teams get to the scene quickly and safely. This is thanks to its unique ability to use both road and air.
Dutch-made
PAL-V International is a Dutch company founded in 2007 by CEO Robert Dingemans and major shareholder John Bakker. The idea for the vehicle originated with Bakker. It arose from frustration at the fact that aeroplanes always have to take off from a fixed location. This also means the pilot has to leave their car at the airport. Bakker therefore decided to design a car that can fly, so that users can reach any location in their own vehicle. This idea was eventually developed into the PAL-V Liberty.
PAL-V Liberty
The PAL-V Liberty is a vehicle that combines the features of a car and an aircraft. Users can decide in which mode they want to use the vehicle. Switching between driving and flying mode takes about five to 10 minutes. To fly in the PAL-V Liberty, users need a pilot's licence.
Gyrocopter
The design of the PAL-V Liberty is inspired by a gyrocopter, an aircraft with a motorless rotor. The design is also inspired by the Carver One. This is a three-wheeled vehicle from Dutch company Carver that leans along when cornering. The system allows to compensate for a gyrocopter's high centre of gravity and ensure that the vehicle can drive safely on public roads.
Airborne features
In the air, the vehicle's maximum speed increases to 180 km/h. Although PAL-V states that the flying car moves most efficiently through the air at 140 km/h. The maximum airborne range is 500 kilometres. This assumes a fuel reserve of 30 minutes and the presence of one occupant. If the vehicle is maximally loaded and a fuel reserve of 30 minutes is maintained, the maximum range drops to 400 kilometres. According to PAL-V, this means in practice that about 4.3 hours can be flown with the PAL-V Liberty before the vehicle has to be refuelled.
Air Ambulance Service
The PAL-V Liberty will operate as one of SkyAngels' rapid intervention vehicles, allowing advanced paramedics and doctors to take advantage of its unique capabilities to get to the scene faster and more efficiently. The partnership is the first of a potential larger order for the UK, with SkyAngels investing in the future of emergency response with the PAL-V flying car.
Rapid transfer
The PAL-V Liberty can be used for short flights over natural obstacles, such as to the Isle of Wright or the Isle of Man. But it can also be used as a quick transfer across the country, independent of major highways and traffic jams.
Unique use case
Robert Dingemanse, CEO of PAL-V: "The reservation of SkyAngels shows their confidence in our product. We look forward to the further development of this partnership to improve emergency services. SkyAngels Air ambulance has a unique use case for the Liberty. This also helps us further develop the corporate and government market. It is not just an emergency response vehicle. It is additionally a tool that can be used for coastal surveillance, border patrol, police and many more applications."
Photos: PAL-V International
