Flying
cars are getting closer to reality every day.
One
model, backed by a former
executive with Tesla and Space X, costs almost $300,000 and has nearly 3,000 pre-orders.
The
price point is expected to come down significantly in the coming years. The
first unit is expected to debut sometime next year.
Tim Draper, an early investor in Tesla and Space X, also
got in early when he invested almost $3 million.
“I put more (money in) when I saw that they had created a
small drone prototype that did exactly what they told me it would do,” Draper
told Reuters in 2022. “The design is extraordinary. The sides of the car become the wings when
the plane goes horizontal.”
Alef Aeronautics, a Silicon Valley-based startup, said
that the pre-orders for its Model A total more than $850 million. The model is
electric with a vertical takeoff and landing.
You can hold one for a fully refundable deposit of $150. Of
course, the balance might be a little pricey.
The Federal Aviation Administration granted the Model A a Special Airworthiness Certification, but it still needs approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Routes for flying the unit still have to be determined.
Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny
told CNBC that he expects regulatory approval.
“If everything goes right, we plan to start production
of the first one by the end of 2025,” Dukhovny said.
What separates this unit from other flying car prototypes
is its ability to travel like a vehicle on the highway. Most other prototypes
look like oversized drones.
No word from George and Jane Jetson or from their
children, Elroy and Judy.
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