The world’s first flying car recently completed its first flight in Moses Lake, Washington, at the Grant Country International Airport. The aircraft, known as Switchblade, was designed by aircraft maker Samson Sky.
Switchblade is a street-legal, three-wheeled vehicle that can convert into a flying aircraft in less than three minutes, according to Fox News Digital. It comes with two retractable wings and a tail that collapse into the body.
The flying car can seat two passengers and reportedly has enough room to hold two overnight bags.
Switchblade has the ability to travel 125 mph on the road and 190 mph in the air, as well as reaching 13,000 feet above sea level. The report also mentioned that it can get 700 miles on a single tank of gas and 450 miles if the pilot decides to take it to the air.
However, the flying car will come at a heavy cost for a prospective buyer. It is estimated to cost around $170,000 for just the basic model. The buyer will also have to build 51% of the vehicle, as it is considered an experimental aircraft. But the company says that it will guide the buyer in the building process, thus making the process a bit easier.
Additionally, anyone who wishes to fly one must have a private pilot license. But this has not deterred around 2,300 people from 57 countries who have already reserved a craft, according to the Robb Report.
The test pilot, Robert Moehle, described his experience in a recent statement, saying that “the Switchblade handled great,” adding that “I’m excited to be the first to fly it away from the ground.”
Moehle, who trained in flight testing with the Boeing Company, has served as the test director for the 787. He has logged 2,400 hours in the air, piloting 56 different aircraft models. He has also contributed to the R&D process at Samson Sky.
Samson Sky CEO Sam Bousfield said that “after 14 years of design and rigorous testing, our first flight is a huge milestone. This puts us on the path towards producing thousands of Switchblades to meet the large and enthusiastic demand we’re receiving.”
“Someone asked me how it felt to see the Switchblade fly,” Bousfield said. “I thought about it and realized this is what it feels like when your dreams come true.”
It is yet to be seen if the experimental craft will play a role in the evolution of transportation or if it will simply be a toy for the wealthy and adventurous.
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