

The Med-Evacuation Aerial Vehicle, also known as the "flying stretcher," is a product of Israel, and is designed to aid the nation's military in quickly recovering soldiers and ferrying them out of harm's way. Its enclosed fan allows for a vertical takeoff in areas tighter than a helicopter can manage, and it has the ability to roll around on its wheels, flying to where an ambulance can't go. Four patients on stretchers can be loaded onto the vehicle and treated by an on-board medic as the MEAV climbs up to 10,000 feet, able to stay aloft for three hours as it goes to and from the hospital.
It's billed as being able to operate anywhere in the face of any kind of terrain, with applications for the military as well as saving civilians after accidents. There aren't many details on how piloting is handled, but we're guessing by a remote operator much like a UAV. A MEAV prototype has performed well enough that actual units will go into production later this year.
Auto Motto, via Mail Online
By holla at 6:36 PM ON 02/12/09
this is pretty great. where is the pilot supposed to sit?
By kubiaka at 6:47 PM ON 02/12/09
There is no pilot.
By Old Man Dotes at 7:02 PM ON 02/12/09
@Holla: In Tel Aviv, at the remote console. This is a UAV.
By chris at 10:49 AM ON 02/13/09
So the flying car version shouldn't be too far off?
By Anonymous at 4:14 PM ON 04/12/09
they used to call these things blimps
By jeremy thompson at 5:46 PM ON 04/24/09
can i link to your page
jeremy thompson:
can i link to your page...More »