FAA approves $300,000 DeLorean-like flying car that can vertically take off to avoid traffic jams
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Back to the future in real life? $300,000 flying car that drives on roads and takes off to avoid traffic jams like DeLorean from the 1980s movie gets FAA approval
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the legal go-ahead to the makers of a quirky car that can transition seamlessly from highway to sky, much like Doc Brown’s retrofitted DeLorean in the Back to the Future series.
California-based Alef Aeronautics claims its Model A will have customers sailing through traffic and jumping over accidents, all for an MSRP of $298,520.
Alef announced that its all-electric, two-seat Model A received limited special airworthiness certification from the FAA this Tuesday.
The company — which reports it has been testing a full-size Model A prototype since 2019 — called the news “one small step for planes, one giant step for cars.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has given Alef the go-ahead to test its quirky flying car, the Model A, which they said can perform vertical takeoff seamlessly from highway to sky
Alef unveiled its full-size sports car model, along with two fully functional, full-size technology demonstrators at a Draper University press conference last October
Alef has said his flying car is 100 percent electric and can hold its own on public roads.
The vehicle is designed for vertical take-off and landing capabilities and can carry one to two occupants.
“The FAA is actively working on its policies for Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicles (eVTOLs),” an Alef spokesperson said in a statement, “as well as governing interactions between eVTOLs and ground infrastructure.”
Given this new regulatory boundary, Alef noted that his special certificate from the FAA currently “restricts the locations and purposes for which Alef may fly” as Model A testing continues.
At a Draper University press conference in San Mateo, California, last October, Alef unveiled its full-size sports car model and two fully functional, full-size technology demonstrators.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given a legal green light to the makers of a quirky car that can transition seamlessly from highway to sky, much like Doc Brown’s retrofitted DeLorean in the Back to the Future series starring Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) through time
California-based Alef Aeronautics claims its Model A will have customers cruising traffic and jumping over accidents, all for an MSRP of $298,520
Alef’s Model A is designed for vertical takeoff and landing and can carry one to two occupants
According to the company, pre-orders for Model A have since been high for individuals and businesses.
On the road, according to Alef’s websiteModel A will be categorized as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), a designation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local government agencies, meaning the car will come with legal restrictions in most states.
“The assumption is that if a driver needs a faster route, they will use Alef’s flight capabilities,” as explained on the Model A pre-order page.
During and after the flying car’s vertical take-off maneuvers, the driver, passenger and surrounding cabin remain stabilized by Alef’s specially designed rotating gimbal cabin design.
“We are pleased to receive this certification from the FAA,” Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny said in a statement.
“It allows us to bring people closer to an environmentally friendly and faster commute,” said Dukhovny, “saving individuals and businesses hours each week.”