Are we going to take our traffic jams to the skies? Recently a flying car received approval for flight in limited locations.
The dream of flying a car above the crowds on the roads has been part of many television shows and movies for decades. From the Back to the Future movies to The Absent-Minded Professor and Flubber, different ways to make cars fly have been thought of and studied. Over the past several years, we’ve grown ever closer to this reality. Even the trio of goofy Brits offering us The Grand Tour featured a flying car in Central Europe in their latest installment called EuroCrash.
A California-based company receives FAA certification
What car would you choose if you had one to lift off and take flight? Some might think a traditional sedan or SUV would make sense. These larger bodies could offer more room for the wings to fold in and be part of the structure. The company receiving FAA approval to fly chose a sports car build, which makes the car even more appealing when it takes off and heads into the air. Alef is the company receiving FAA approval to fly in limited locations.
What is this new car that heads into the air?
The Alef Armada Model Zero aircraft received certification from the FAA on June 12. This sports car received a Special Airworthiness Certification, which allows it to fly in limited areas. This is the first flying car to receive approval from a federal agency. Many companies have experimented with road vehicles taking flight, but none have received approval until now. This certification allows the Armada Model Zero to be used for limited purposes, which can include exhibition, research, and development projects. Could this car become a better way for some drivers to make their daily commute?
Back to the Future strikes again
The sci-fi film “Back to the Future II” depicted the idea of a future that would occur in 2015. Although flying cars aren’t a regular part of our daily lives yet, this movie and the year could be what inspired Alef’s founders to begin working on a road-going vehicle that could take flight. The first prototype called the Model A, was unveiled last year. This car is a street-legal machine that can drive on the road and park in regular parking spaces. The car can take off vertically, like a helicopter, and fly in any direction.
The flying range is 110 miles, and the claimed driving range is 200 miles, which could change the game for those with a long commute.
Could a flying car offer shorter commute times?
This new car has received FAA certification, which, if produced for public use, could mean people are much closer to having a faster and less congested commute. Those sitting in heavy traffic every day could avoid this by flying to work instead of driving with the rest of the crowd. Although this is mostly a theoretical solution, it could be interesting to see if these flying vehicles are allowed to venture into city airspaces.
A cockpit made to keep everyone flat
Smaller aircraft can be difficult for some people to ride in because of the potential to be tossed about during flight. This new flying car features a gimbaled driving cabin to ensure the driver and passenger are stabilized. The vehicle can rotate around the cabin and fly where directed without making the passengers turn and twist during flight. This new all-electric flying machine comes at a price of $300,000, with a more expensive hydrogen model providing a longer range for driving and flying.
It’s a sports car, it’s a plane, we’re not sure what it is
The propellers for the new Alef Armada Model Zero are hidden, giving this flying car a look that appears to be without wings. The car flown in The Grand Tour: EuroCrash had wings that folded in and out of the rear of the vehicle. Alef claims this car could be the fastest and most convenient transport ever created for daily commuting. Although Alef calls this a “solution to the issues of modern congestion,” there is a real possibility that these small cars won’t be allowed to fly above city streets.
So far, Alef has received more than 440 preorders for the all-electric version of this new flying car. Considering its limited use and distance, that’s pretty impressive. These new models should be delivered to customers in the latter part of 2025. A four-person sedan, great for carpooling, is expected to be developed by 2035.
Could this be the start of making Back to the Future come true?
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