Flying cars closer to reality?

Motorists in the Netherlands may be able to take to the skies in a few years to avoid traffic jams, a Dutch company has claimed.

The PAL-V One is a hybrid of a car, a motorbike and a gyroplane, and is set to go into production in 2012. Prototypes were shown to Dutch Transport Minister Camiel Eurlings on Monday.

Initially the vehicle would be available to the emergency services rather than the private user.

- DPA