Egyptian "flying tuc-tuc" inventor's dream stalls

Tuc-tucs are small, inexpensive vehicles capable of navigating tight-bends and corners, and weaving in and out of traffic jams providing passengers with an effective mode of transport around the hustle and bustle of big cities. 

Aeroplanes are vehicles that take their passengers up off the ground, into the air, are quite costly and are capable of travelling at great speed across vast distances.

Combine the two and what do you get? Well, probably something that doesn’t work very well. 

That is what one former Egyptian parliament member has discovered. 

Salah Abdu Khalil, visionary among mere mortals, has created a “flying tuc-tuc” regularly promoting its journey from drawing board to completion on his personal Facebook account, attracting a host of followers in the process ready for its grand launch earlier this week.

Sadly, upon its launch Mr. Khalil discovered that his invention has one fatal flaw: It can’t get off the ground. 

This predicament is perhaps not surprising considering the flying tuc-tuc appears a rather haphazard attempt to physically fuse the body of a hatchback with a small trailer at the back and two metallic rotating blades on top: arguably it looks more Blue Peter than high science. 

Fellow Egyptians have been fairly confused by the invention which has been featured on news bulletins as a source of respite, or fluffery, away from reports on political tensions, and sugar and price-fixing crises currently plaguing the country.

Some, taking to social media, have, to be frank, taken the mickey, querying how the inventor behind the flying tuk-tuk could have once been a member of parliament representing Egypt. Others have praised Khalil for his industry and his creativity.

At other times, reading messages about the flying tuk-tuk on social media, it became clear some people were treading a fine line between taking the mickey, and praising Khalil.

One case in point is provided by a tweet posted by Ashraf El-Zayat, a broadcaster at Watan TV who commented on the flying tuc-tuc stating: Finally the Egyptian dream ... a flying tuc-tuc made 100 percent by Egyptian hands.

Another tweet noted simply that it was a shame that the world of aviation would not be welcoming a new cohort to its ranks...yet.

This is the first time an modern-day Egyptian Icarus has attempted such a herculian feat, and, failed.