Flying cars may soon become a reality

The flying car has been a fantasy since the 1960s cartoon, “The Jetsons.” These companies are now planning to turn the concept into reality in the next few years.

Flying cars may soon become a reality as companies worldwide seek to solve urban congestion and provide a novel mode of transportation. One company in Florida has already brought a flying car to market, while three others are close to launching their own versions. Most models will require a standard driver’s license, with some also needing a drone or pilot’s license.

Unlike electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, flying cars can operate within existing regulatory frameworks, potentially creating a market for thousands of vehicles, according to Dr. Kyriakos Kourousis, program director at the University of Limerick. Some models will be sold as kits, simplifying the approval process under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The eventual goal for many companies is to make their vehicles fully autonomous while in flight mode, but owners will initially be responsible for driving and flying.

Liberty Sport
The $300,000 Liberty Sport from Netherlands-based PAL-V International is currently in its final testing phase and expected to begin deliveries in 2022. The three-wheeled car can convert into a two-passenger gyroplane in under five minutes and has a top speed of nearly 100 mph on the road, with a flight range of approximately 250 miles for two passengers or 310 miles for the pilot alone.

Unlike a helicopter, the Liberty Sport requires a short airstrip for takeoff, and lift is generated by the blades, while forward thrust is provided by a separate motor and propeller, similar to a fixed-wing airplane but with a shorter takeoff distance.

Aska
Aska, based in California, is promoting its A5 as the world’s first drive and fly electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The A5, which is about the size of an SUV, utilizes six propellers to take off vertically from a vertipad and operate as an aircraft in flight.

The hybrid-electric vehicle can travel up to 250 miles at a maximum speed of 150 mph while in flight, and Aska aims to get it certified for speeds of up to 70 mph on highways while in drive mode. Although the first version will be piloted on the road and in the air, Aska has plans to introduce autonomous capabilities down the line. Maki Kaplinsky, Aska’s Co-Founder and Chair/COO, said that eventually, the A5 will be fully autonomous on both the road and in the air. The company intends to launch the A5 in 2026.

AirCar
The AirCar, created by Slovakia-based Klein Vision, has a design that blends a futuristic Italian hypercar with a military tank. The two-passenger vehicle can transform from a roadster to an aircraft with the push of a button as the tail extends and wings unfold from a hidden compartment.

The AirCar has already received certification from Slovakian air-transport authorities and is expected to cost between $500,000 to $1 million upon release. Klein Vision is also pursuing certification across Europe and intends to develop four-passenger and amphibious versions of the flying car.

Alef Model A
Alef, a California-based company, has recently unveiled a concept of its Model A, which it claims is the sole flying automobile that can legally drive on the street and take off vertically. The battery-powered device uses eight propellers housed inside a body similar in size to a large car to launch vertically.

The Alef Model A can seat two passengers and their luggage in a bubble-like compartment, and has a range of 200 miles on the road and 110 miles in flight, according to the company. Alef is currently conducting road and flight tests on a full-sized demonstration vehicle. An animated video released by the company demonstrates the Model A in the air, rotating 90 degrees after takeoff to transition from upward to forward flight. The Model A is currently available for presale at $300,000 and is scheduled to commence production in Q1 2025.

Doroni
Doroni’s electric aircraft isn’t intended for long-distance travel, but rather for personal use as a flying vehicle, which distinguishes it from most electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. The Miami-based company is developing the H1 as a “semi-autonomous” aircraft, meaning that individuals with a standard driver’s license and 20-hour training course can fly it.

Doroni aims to certify the H1 as a Light Sport Aircraft under FAA regulations. The two-seat flying car features two sets of wings with large ducted fans that provide thrust and lift, allowing for a 500-pound payload. The H1 is projected to have a range of 50 miles and a top speed of 140 mph, with deliveries set to begin in 2024, according to the company.