FAA Deems Ferrari-Like Flying Sports Car To Be Safe For Air
There’s been a lot of talk about George Jetson of The Jetsons canonically being born on July 31, 2022—which makes now the perfect time for the world of flying cars to finally see expansion.
Samson Sky, a California-based company specialized in roadable aircraft, has had its car certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as safe for flight. The next move for the firm will be to embark on its maiden flight, which could take place in mere weeks, The Hill reports.
This test flight will be particularly exciting because the ‘Switchblade’, which is what the vehicle is called, is a flying car in the most literal sense. Unlike the human-sized drones and air taxis made just for the sky, it’s a street-legal luxury car that can both be driven and flown. CEO Sam Bousfield dubs it as a “flying sports car.”
The sleek, Ferrari-esque car has been in development behind the scenes for 14 years, and it could soon make its road-to-air mechanism visible to the public. The Switchblade, which seats two, has wings that extend seamlessly from its body at the touch of a button to prepare for flight. It also has a tail that adjusts according to the mode of travel.
On the ground, its wings are tucked into its body and it functions as a road car. When not in use, it can be parked in a garage.
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The Switchblade runs on a Skybird electric hybrid system, which is said to be less emissions-intensive than a private jet, and its Formula 1 safety tech protects passengers in the event of a collision. The car can reach 125 mph on the road and 200 mph on air, as well as hit a maximum altitude of 16,000 feet, rising high enough to glide over traffic jams.
Notably, there’s currently no specific license for flying cars, so drivers would have to have dual licenses spanning a driver or motorcycle license, plus pilot accreditation. However, there is no need to have obtained both during the point of purchase—users with a driver’s license would be free to take their car on the road until they receive a pilot’s certificate, which would entitle them to fly the vehicle too. Interestingly, Switchblade is also legally a tricycle in most US states.
Likewise, drivers would require two types of insurance for roads and the air to be fully covered for accidents.
The company hopes to begin production for the cars within 18 months from its first test flight. When all has been cleared, the car will be sold for US$170,000. As of now, only about 1,600 are available for a waitlist, and interested customers will have to make a US$2,000 deposit.
[via Robb Report, autoevolution, The Hill, images via Samson Sky]
