This Slovak's autogyro can fly – or drive

The 'driving plane' is licensed to use public roads.

The Gyrocopter Calidus is equipped to fly, and to drive on public roads.The Gyrocopter Calidus is equipped to fly, and to drive on public roads. (Source: Archive of M.P.)

Drivers in central Slovakia can occasionally spot a flying car passing by them on the roads.

This small, plane-like car now has a licence to use public roads. The vehicle is also able to fly like a normal plane. Drivers may spot the hybrid car in the environs of Zvolen, Banská Bystrica Region. There is only one other vehicle of this type in Slovakia, writes The Slovak Spectator's sister publication MY Zvolen.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

The car-plane hybrid, called the Gyrocopter Calidus, is the outcome of long process of planning and design. Despite the fact that its owner Milan Paprčka is Slovak, the flying-car was originally manufactured in the Czech municipality of Přerov.

SkryťTurn off ads
Read also At Slovakia’s map museum, visitors become cartographers Read more 

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

The future of safer abortion in Slovakia is still unknown. (Illustrative photo).

News digest: Health minister ponders politically fraught abortion pill decision

Summer in Bratislava, the future of stores, and the general prosecutor objects to a sentencing decision.


2 h
Vrakuňa’s citizens presented apples washed in water with leaked toxins at the protest in 2016.

Chemical time bomb in Bratislava’s Vrakuňa keeps ticking

The state is failing to solve leaking chemical waste dump.


31. may
Jupiter (centre) and its Galilean moons: from left Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto. Juice with deployed antennas and arrays is in the bottom right.

From Košice to Ganymede: Slovak engineers are leaving their mark in space

Slovaks are active participants in two ongoing space missions.


20. may
Devin Castle

Top 10 events in Bratislava for foreigners

Tips for the top 10 events in the capital between June 8 and June 18, plus temporary exhibitions, classical music and highlights of the year.


18 h
SkryťClose ad