Updated

It was designed to leap over small buildings in a single bound, but it never got off the ground.

Military contractor BAE Systems has unveiled a once-top secret “Jumping Jeep” that was under development in the 1960’s.

Designed by the British Aerospace Corporation, one of BAE’s predecessors, the off and above-roader was envisioned to be used as a go-anywhere reconnaissance vehicle.

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Twelve directional fans fitted around the vehicle were to provide lift, allowing it to fly up and over obstacles.

Unfortunately for flying car fans, the projected cost of the project kept it on the drawing boards next to a number of other futuristic proposals recently unearthed by BAE that included vertical take-off and landing commercial passenger jets and delta winged space planes.