FAA Certifies World’s First Flying Car, The “Model A”
UNITED STATES’ FAA ISSUES FIRST CERTIFICATION EVER TO THE WORLD’S FIRST LEGAL FLYING CAR
While this seems like inevitable news, it’s still pretty exciting to hear that the world is now about to forever end the days before a flying car that anyone can buy commercially. In some ways, it’s surprising that it’s taken this long for a car that flies to be a reality in the marketplace. But the company Alef Aeronautics proudly announced this week that their all-electric flying car, the “Model A,” has received FAA certification to fly. In other words, the United States government has given the green light for people to fly this vehicle. This will likely open up the floodgates soon for many other flying car options across the world.
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THE MODEL A HAS VTOL, DRIVES LIKE A CAR, AND IS “RELATIVELY” AFFORDABLE AT $300,000
The idea behind the Model A first happened in the year 2015, which also so happens to be the year that Marty McFly time traveled to in the first Back to the Future film. It was just a year later that Alef Aeronautics built its first subscale prototype, which had to fit particular requirements. It had to drive like a real car, it had to have VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing capabilities), and lastly had to be relatively affordable. Over years of development, Alef first introduced the Model A last October. And now, less than a year later, it is legally cleared to fly the until now carless skies.
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MODEL A HAS A 200 MILE RANGE DRIVING ON THE GROUND, 110 MILES IN THE CAR-FRIENDLY SKIES
So what can the Model A do? It has enough power to either drive 200 miles on the ground or fly roughly 110. The Model A will go into production in the 4th quarter of 2025. With a price of $300,000, it will only be the over 440 reservations who will get their personal flying car shortly after production begins in 2 years. So what’s next after the Model A? Additional models, of course. With a slated release in 2035, Alef Aeronautics will offer the “Model Z,” a 4-person sedan which will supposedly cost $35,000. I have serious doubts about that last.
But flying cars are at last here. As exciting as that is, I’m a little concerned about private “sky drivers” texting the friendly skies. At least there won’t be any red lights to get stuck behind. Or will there be?
