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Have you ever imagined while watching The Blade Runner or Back to the Future that flying cars will become reality one day? Well, Alef Aeronautics has successfully developed the first FAA approved flying car. The company, owned by four friends, Constantine Kisly, Oleg Petrov, Pavel Markin, and Dukhovny, has been working on this project since 2015. The first test drive was done in 2018 which was successful but in 2019, they conducted the experiment with a full-sized prototype. Luckily, it was a hit! But Alef decided that it needed authorization from FAA for further research and development.
In the last half of September 2023, Alef Aeronautics was given official clearance for its first take off. The FAA has made it official by endorsing the groundbreaking invention that is “Model A”. The flying car “Model A” has legally gained permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to get test drive from road into the air. Although the routes and locations are limited for now.
Dukhovny told USA TODAY, "The historical significance of this cannot be overstated, While there have been pioneers like Terrafugia, Paul Moller, and Henry Ford, this is the first time a vehicle, in the traditional sense (parks and drives like a car, functions like a car, looks like a car), has received permission to fly. It's also important that Alef is the first electric car which received permission to fly. And, last but not least, the ability for vertical takeoff is central to most people's conception of a 'flying car.'"
Open to Order
After the successful test drive, the “Model A” is now available to pre-order. The set price is $300,000 only. It is fully electric and can be driven on public roads. It has a low speed of 25 miles per hour and drivers can make it faster using its flight capabilities. It has a driving range of 200 miles with a flight range of 110 miles. Pretty cool! Huh?
If you are interested, you have to be able to pay $150 deposit to get on company’s waiting list or pay $1500 to get prioritized for deliveries starting in fourth quarter of 2025. Alef Aeronautics has also declared that it has taken orders for about 400 vehicles earlier this year with a refundable payment of $1500. The “Model A” is equipped with propellers which resemble drones, and it looks like fictional flying cars from the movies Blade Runner or Total Recall.
Final Verdict
Although many companies are working on all electric vehicles or VOTLs, FAA has said that Alef Aeronautics is not first to get special certificate for airworthiness. But Alef’s vehicle is different due to its ability to drive on road and fly in the air as well. So, if you are worried or stuck in traffic most of your life, you should take this opportunity to become the first one to invest in a flying car and fly into the air!