Chumoukedima (Nagaland) [India], January 6 (HBTV): The ‘world’s first’ flying car has entered production, according to US-based Alef Aeronautics.
The Alef Model A Ultralight uses eight propellers concealed in the boot and bonnet, allowing it to take off vertically. After landing, the vehicle can be driven like a conventional car. Following more than a decade of development, the company said the first customers would soon receive their vehicles.
The flying cars will be hand-assembled at Alef Aeronautics’ facility in Silicon Valley, California. The company said each vehicle would require several months of craftsmanship before it is ready for delivery. Initially, only a small number of customers will receive the cars to test the experimental technology under real-world conditions, allowing engineers to identify and resolve potential issues before mass production begins.
Jim Dukhovny, Chief Executive Officer of Alef Aeronautics, said production had started as planned. ‘We are happy to report that production of the first flying car has started on schedule. The team worked hard to meet the timeline, because we know people are waiting. We’re finally able to get production off the ground,’ he said.
Alef Aeronautics said the Model A differs from flying taxis as it does not rely on airports or vertiports. The vehicle is both road-legal and capable of electric vertical take-off and landing. On the ground, it operates like an electric car, using four small engines integrated into the wheels. In the air, powerful propellers surrounding the driver’s seat enable flight at a cruising speed of up to 110 miles per hour.
The carbon-fibre mesh body, measuring approximately five metres by two metres, allows air to pass through while shielding the spinning blades. The company said the car can accommodate a pilot and one passenger, with a range of about 200 miles on the ground and 110 miles in the air.
Dukhovny said the vehicle is designed for general public use and would take around 15 minutes to learn to operate. The Model A Ultralight is a stripped-down prototype of the company’s flagship Model A. Weighing about 385 kg, it is classified as an ultralight low-speed vehicle, which limits its road speed to 25 miles per hour.
Alef Aeronautics received airworthiness certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration in 2023. The company said it has received around 3,500 pre-orders worth more than £800 million. Customers will be required to undergo training in compliance and maintenance and will be permitted to fly only under controlled conditions. (Source: MSN)