Raheem Khan & Masihuzzama Ansari
NEW DELHI–His name is Mohammad Furqan Shoaib… he innovated Asia’s first hybrid flying car. Yet Indian media ignored him because he is a Muslim.
Vinata Aeromobility, a startup company, recently designed Asia’s first hybrid flying car. The man behind the innovation was none other than Mohammad Furqan Shoaib, the company’s Chief Technology Officer.
India went crazy after the innovation and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia praised the company. The innovation featured prominently in the newspapers, but the innovator’s name was missing.
The hybrid car can gain a speed of 120 kilometers per hour. This car is set to be showcased at the Helitech Expo in London on October 5. This car can be used for emergency and cargo services.
An American website `Future Flight’, which features emerging aviation technology, was all praise for Furqan.
But in the home country, Mohammad Furqan Shoaib has largely been ignored.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Mohammad Furqan Shoaib is posted as Chief Technology Officer at Vinata Aeromobility.
Sudhir Choudhary of Zee News, sharing the news with the `Make in India’ logo on September 22, mentioned `flying car made in India’ ten times but did not name Furqan once.
Did Indian media ignore Furqan deliberately or was it a genuine mistake?
Zee News, Aaj Tak, Bharat Tak, and many other channels discussed car launch but did not mention Mohammad Furqan Shoaib.
“The company’s Chief Technology Officer is aeronautical engineer Mohammad Furqan Shoaib, who has experience in developing unmanned aerial vehicles and is also a qualified drone operator,” the US website said.
Furqan also tweeted thanking Union Minister for appreciating his idea.
Vinata Aeromobility, the company that made this flying car, shared the introduction of Furqan on its website.
“The company’s Chief Technology Officer is an Indian inventor, aeronautical engineer, and certified UAV pilot, who has expertise in aerospace design and UAV engineering. He has a passion for advanced aircraft and UAVs. He has experience in research and development of various configurations of UAVs and aircraft,” the company said.
The company hogged the limelight when it showed the prototype of its hybrid flying car to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
“Glad to be introduced to the concept model of Asia’s first hybrid flying car soon to be made by the young team of Vinata Aeromobility. After its launch, the flying cars will be used to transport people and cargo as well as provide medical emergency services. My best wishes to the team,” Scindia tweeted.
Who is Mohammad Furqan Shoaib?
He is the Chief Technology Officer at Vinata Aeromobility. He is an Indian inventor, an aeronautical engineer as well as a certified (certified) UAV pilot.
Apart from this, he is an expert in Aerospace Design and UAV Engineering. He has a passion for making advanced aircraft and UAVs. He also has experience in the research and development of UAVs and aircraft.
Furqan is the only aeronautical engineer associated with the company.