Moller International, with its headquarters at Davis in California, has tentatively decided to test fly its new vehicle at the company backyard by the end of this month. Thus, the world's first flycar will take off and land vertically, according to the company spokesperson.

Powered by eight rotary engines, the flying car is designed to travel 900 miles at more than 350 mph on a single tank of gas. Commenting on the fuel that can be used in this vehicle, the spokesperson says ordinary gasoline is the ideal choice. And the lower the octane content, the better.

Although legalities are yet to be cleared, the flycar can be driven on the road at a speed of up to 30 mph usingits electric engine.

The flight, which is scheduled for this month, will be unmanned. But Moller claims that more ambitious tests with professional test pilots will follow in the years to come. Only after that will the car-plane be ready for the market.

Before its commercial launch, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must certify the vehicle. And because of the unique nature of the vehicle, Moller fears that FAA will take longer than usual to give its approval. Till the FAA gives the green signal, pilots test-flying the vehicle will need a pilot's licence. But the company hopes that after the initial period of caution, unlicensed pilots will also be able to fly these car-planes, which will be fully automated.

The flycar's price will also be a stumbling block initially. Replying to one of the most frequently asked questions on the company Website, a spokesperson says that in limited production (500 units per year), the skycar will sell for a price comparable to that of a four-passengerhigh-performance helicopter or airplane--approximately $1 million. But he adds that with a substantial increase in volume of production, its price can approach that of a luxury automobile.

On the possibility of flycars making it to India, mechanical engineer and automobile expert Kirit Singh says: ``Why not? If the Federal Aviation Administration can certify such a vehicle in the US, I'm sure our civil aviation norms will permit it, too.'' Will the flycar be a good alternative to regular cars in avoiding heavy traffic and pollution? Singh says: ``Not really. The skycar is only a specialised product, which doesn't meet the day-to-day needs of a regular automobile user.''

Dipankar Bir, a specialised car writer, says that in India, everything is dependent on two crucial factors: price and government regulations. So, the flycar can be launched in India only when its price is lowered considerably. Also, the Indian government must shed some of its stringent regulations to make the flycar a success in thecountry, according to Bir. For instance, the government shouldn't make a big fuss about issuing a nominal licence to fly a vehicle like this, he suggests.

But looking at the sunny side, Bir says: ``What a blessing it would be to avoid the poor roads of India.'' Commenting on the environmental aspects of the flycar, Bir adds: ``There will be less acceleration and deceleration, and therefore, it will be an improvement from the pollution point of view.'' The flycar will also have a tourism advantage because it will be able to access remote areas more efficiently, says Bir.

The route to introduce this vehicle in India should be through a tie-up with Moller International, suggests Bir. And by when does he think it will happen? Bir points out that nothing takes very long to reach India these days. Two years after its commercial launch in the US, the flycar should be in India, Bir predicts.

So that makes it at least five years from now. Till then, dream about flying over traffic jams like James Bond.