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' electric flying car, the Model A (or its precursor), received FAA experimental flight approval, making it the first "true" flying car design capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) from urban settings with legal signoff.
The Model A is designed for both road driving and flying, expected to go on sale by 2025 for $300,000, offering a 200-mile driving range and 110-mile flying range for one passenger.
Despite this milestone and significant pre-orders, the vehicle faces considerable challenges including mass production, complex regulatory approvals for both automotive and aviation standards, efficiency concerns, and integration into urban air traffic control, which could jeopardize its 2025 launch target.

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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.