It might look like something out of a Marvel comic but this flying jeep is close to becoming a reality.
According to insiders at the military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the first model of this futuristic vehicle will be ready at the end of next year.
It is designed to be capable of driving across the roughest terrain like a jeep, sustain gun fire and take off and land at the flick of a switch.
The US Army hopes that the flying Humvee will carry four personnel plus equipment, take off and land vertically, be flown more than 250 miles on a tank of gas, and be operated without pilot training.
Aerospace companies Lockheed Martin and AAI Corporation have presented feasible designs to the military's Transformer TX program, and have advanced to the next phase - beginning work on prototypes.
Although no contracts have yet been awarded to take the project to the next level, AAI spokesman Sharn Corna said: It is my understanding that DARPA intends to proceed with us.
The first model of the flying Humvee is expected at the end of next year.
If DARPA then move forward with the project, the new Humvee could take to the skies as soon as 2015. 1/2 12下一页尾页