Russian aircraft designer and inventor, Alexander Begak, has created a
unique vehicle which is capable of travelling on land, water and in the air.


PYATIGORSK, RUSSIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) - Alexander Begak is a test pilot and the chief designer of an aerocar
he calls "Evolution", a flying pod that can travel on land, slide
through water and snow, and fly - thanks to a gliding parachute that acts as a
soft, highly portable wing.
    Made of ultra-light coal-plastic and Kevlar fibres with a hull made of
ultra-strong materials, the super-light one or two-seater aircraft weighs only
60 kilograms.
    Begak says his invention is a multi-purpose vehicle which can be used
for reconnaissance or industries, like monitoring the gas and oil pipelines,
as well as for leisure activities.
    "It's great for fishing or hunting, especially the two-seater. Its
flying speed can be very slow. It can be set at 15 kilometres per hour so it
will practically stay still. That's good for hunting - for wolves, for
example," said Alexander.
    Begak says his vehicle can fly 4,000 meters above the ground and cover
up to 400 kilometres without refuelling. Its 30 horsepower motor can reach
speeds of 160 km/h in the air and 80 km/h on land. An on-board computer
controls pilot's actions.
    It took the young designer two years to get Evolution to fly. There
have been more than 100 flights which Begak says have been successful.
    But Begak has further ambitions.
    "The machine we are building now will be capable to drive around a
city at a speed of up to 100 kilometres per hour and fly between the cities at
a speed of 450 kilometres per hour," he said.
    Begak plans to give his first Evolution to Russia's president Vladimir
Putin hoping the gift would inspire Putin to give his backing to the evolving
light aircraft industry in Russia.