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Uber has joined forces with a NASA scientist to work on plans to make real-life Back to the Future-style flying machines.

The cab hailing firm is out to prove the sky's the limit with ambitions plans to roll out a fleet of airborne taxis available on demand.

Tech bosses hope the service will allow commuters to order flying cabs that ferry them from A to B – just like vehicles in the eighties sci-fi classic.

Now the company has hired ex-NASA boffin Mark Moore to help bring the project – dubbed Uber Elevate – to fruition.

(Image: UBER)

The former US space agency engineer is expected to work on the vertical take off element of the flying vehicle, known as VTOL.

He said: “I can’t think of another company in a stronger position to be the leader for this new ecosystem and make the urban electric VTOL market real.”

Uber believes the small electric-powered vehicles would ease congestion and “change cities and how we work and live”.

According to its plans, each machine would carry several passengers, with the ability to take off and land vertically.

Fares could cost as much as £104 at first, falling to £16 as the service becomes cheaper to operate.

(Image: MARK MOORE/NASA)

Uber is yet to build a flying car, which is likely to be years in the making.

But last October the Silicon valley firm published a blueprint mapping out its radical vision for the future of transport.

Nikhil Goel, Uber’s head of product for advanced programs, said the firm wants to play a central role in nurturing the flying car industry.

He said: “Uber continues to see its role as an accelerant-catalyst to the entire ecosystem, and we are excited to have Mark joining us to work with manufacturers and stakeholders as we continue to explore the use case described in our whitepaper.”

Last year a futuristic concept car has been unveiled – which could mean a quicker commute for decades to come.