Fly or drive? Both actually…

The idea of personal air transport is a longstanding dream of “the future” and has been for many decades. Aerospace Perceptions most recently delved into the topic in April under the title “Solo Flight” ( https://www.aerospaceperceptions.com/solo-flight/ )

Accompanying such flights of fancy have been any number of radical, far-fetched, or simply bizarre ideas about how to get ordinary travelers in the air. A revelation at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show (also back in April) by Chinese carmaker Hongqi checks off all three of those characteristics.

The Hongqi Tianyan No.1 concept vehicle system as seen at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. Image: Hongqi Auto

The Hongqi Tianyan No.1 is described as a flying car, but operationally it is quite different from so many other efforts – to say the least. The vehicle owner and a passenger (sorry – no back seat) will be conveyed across the ground attached to a self-driving vehicle. Arriving at a designated takeoff point, a flying module will then descend from the skies and attach itself to the passenger module. Disconnected from the ground vehicle, the passenger module will then be lifted into the skies. Near the ultimate destination, another autonomous ground vehicle will be summoned, standing by for docking with the passenger module as it is lowered by the flight module, which then flies off in preparation for its next duty. The passenger module then self-drives its way to the adventure’s conclusion.

In this image from Hongqi’s Tianyan No.1 concept video, the passenger module rises skyward after undocking from the ground vehicle and mating with the flying module. Image: Hongqi Auto

It’s important to note Hongqi is a purveyor of luxury vehicles, and no doubt access to considerable financial resources would be a necessity for any potential customer thinking of jumping into this system.

Will the Tianyan No. 1 vehicle system prove feasible? Will it just be a complicated toy for the well-to-do? Or will it have practical applications across multiple consumer financial strata? Seeing Hongqi’s ambitions play out could make for fascinating viewing in days to come.