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, a fully electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flying car, has received experimental flight certification from the FAA, marking it as the first "true" flying car design with U.S. government legal approval to fly.
Designed to drive on roads and perform urban vertical takeoffs, the Model A aims to allow users to bypass ground obstacles, with a planned market launch by 2025 and over 440 preorders already secured.
Despite this milestone, the vehicle faces significant challenges including mass production, comprehensive dual-agency (automobile and aircraft) regulatory approvals, efficiency concerns (initially low-speed), and integrating its unique urban flight capabilities into existing air traffic control systems.

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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.