FAA flying cars: A flying car that can also drive on the road was approved for testing
Posted By: Sophia Andrew
Posted On: July 4, 2023
A company called Alef Aeronautics got permission to start testing its fully electric flying car. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave them a Special Airworthiness Certificate for their “Model A” vehicle, which means they can legally fly it.
People can already order this car for $300,000. It can take off and land vertically and can also drive on the road at a slow speed. The company is based in California, and they plan to start delivering the cars to customers by the end of 2025. The CEO of Alef, Jim Dukhovny, said they are happy to get the FAA’s approval because it brings them closer to providing a faster and eco-friendly way for people to commute.
Alef began working on their flying cars in 2015. They tested their prototype in 2019 and became known to the public in 2022. A person called Tim Draper, who has invested in Tesla and SpaceX before, supports the company.
Watch: Alef unveiling its “Model A” flying car
Alef has a second flying car model in the works
Alef has two electric vehicles. One is called “Model A.” It can travel up to 200 miles when driving on the road and 110 miles when flying. It’s a slow vehicle and must weigh less than 3,000 pounds and not go faster than 25 mph. Model A can carry two people.
Alef is also working on another vehicle called “Model Z.” It will be released in 2035 and is a sedan that can hold four people. The price will be $35,000, and it will have a flying range of over 300 miles and a driving range of over 200 miles.
We don’t know the highest height that Alef’s vehicles can reach. Some competitors aim to fly as high as 10,000 feet, which is the typical altitude for helicopters, while others like Klein Vision’s AirCar aim for 8,000 feet.
