Alef Aeronautics’ Flying Car Design Awarded FAA Special Airworthiness Certificate

The startup’s OK to fly under experimental status will enable flight testing of its car-eVTOL hybrid, the Model A.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 02:53 PM ET

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A digital rendering of Alef’s Model A transitioning from hover to forward flight. [Courtesy: Alef Aeronautics]

Key Takeaways:

Alef Aeronautics' Model A, an electric flying car designed for both road driving and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), has received experimental flight status approval from the FAA, marking a key step towards its planned 2025 commercial launch.
Distinguished as the first "true" flying car with legal U.S. government signoff for flight, the Model A is intended for urban use, enabling users to "hop" over obstacles via vertical flight, with the vehicle rotating for forward movement.
Despite significant preorders, the Model A faces substantial challenges including achieving full regulatory certification for both automobile and aircraft standards, ensuring commercial viability and efficiency, and integrating urban VTOL into existing air traffic control systems.
The company envisions an initial launch of the $300,000 Model A by 2025, followed by a four-seat, more affordable Model Z with increased range slated for 2035.

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An electric flying car design, capable of driving on roads like an automobile or taking off and flying like a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, just received the all clear to fly under experimental status from the FAA, a step on the path towards type certification.

A precursor to Alef Aeronautics’ Model A—in development since 2015 and expected to go on sale for $300,000 by 2025—was awarded an experimental category special airworthiness certificate, becoming the first “true” flying car design with the legal signoff to fly from the U.S. government, according to the company.