The fantasy of the flying car was born in the 1920s. Since then, a huge amount of more or less functional and original concepts have emerged. However, none had ever been authorized to circulate officially. This is now a thing of the past! The Model A, developed by Alef Aeronautics, has just obtained legal certification in the United States.
Can we say that the world of science fiction becomes real when a flying car can move through the sky? Quite realistically, we were already entitled to think so, if only with the immense technological leaps of the last 30 years. But the flying car has a more symbolic aspect: not really a car, not really an airplane either, it wants to offer the best of both worlds. A short tour of the Model A owner to discover its technical specifications.
A convergence of a car and plane
First, the exterior design: between the futuristic carbon finish iron and the Renault Zoé reviewed with Star Wars sauce, it will certainly not please everyone. Let’s not stop at the appearance, we have to see what it intends to offer its future buyers.
Aware that it had to meet specific needs, Alef Aeronautics, since its creation in 2015, has focused on three points: that its vehicle can drive like a classic car, that it can take off vertically and that its price remains relatively accessible (we will come back to the word “relatively” later). The Model A has a driving range of approximately 322 kilometers and a flying range of 177 km, all on battery power. On this point, it is difficult to compare it to the competition, given its dual function of flight and taxiing.
The relatively low price that was advertised by the company is $300,000, which is the combined price of a used Cessna 172 (small single-engine passenger aircraft) and a new luxury/GT/sport class car . The Model A is clearly not for everyone. This high price did not prevent more than 440 reservations of the model from October 2022. The tests of the vehicle have started since 2019 and its production should start in 2025. But the company is not going to stop there. and will develop other models. A sedan, the Model Z scheduled for 2035 with a starting price of $35,000. Certainly in the hope of massiveizing production and releasing a first project that is truly accessible to as many people as possible and lucrative to make the company viable.
Validation of the market potential of this type of vehicle
Jim Dukhovny, CEO of the firm said he wanted to build the first flying car in industrial history, and thus be the first company to validate and open this market. This means getting as many pre-orders as possible. These come as much from private clients as from professionals, proof that the interest is present for a few people.
Four creators are at the initiative of this company: Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, Oleg Petrov and Jim Dukhovny. Legend has it that they sketched the first sketch of a real flying car on a paper napkin while having coffee together. From a simple drawing, their project is now about to cross the production line.
Flying cars, soon a common element in our landscapes? We are not there. Even if this project proves that it remains a niche market aimed at wealthy owners or companies, it is actually impossible to predict in advance what a team of enthusiasts may have in store for us. The history of tech is full of examples that confirm this theory.
Sources: Indian Express, NDTV
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