PARIS: The American start-up Samson Sky has been working for years on the Switchblade, a car capable of spreading its wings and taking flight.
While the likes of James Bond may have ridden in this type of car in the movies, vehicles of the kind are yet to be seen on roads in the real world.
That could soon change, however, with Samson Sky announcing that its flying car is entering the production phase, after obtaining authorization to fly in the USA from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2023. The first deliveries of this model, available from US$170,000, are expected in 2025.
On the road, the car can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. In the air, it can fly at a cruising speed of around 260 km/h – a major first.
In its final version, the Switchblade is compact and relatively environmentally-friendly, with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. When it deploys (or retracts) its wings, two propellers and tail, the Switchblade shape-shifts like a veritable Transformer.
The operation takes a few minutes, however, so don’t expect to take off on a whim. Its range is said to be around 800 km.
The Switchblade project is particularly promising, even if this type of vehicle is not likely to take over the roads any time soon.
With demand nonetheless high, and regulations constantly evolving, the market for flying cars could soon take off. Other, similar projects are well underway, including the AeroMobil, Aska and Terrafugia.
Meanwhile, the Pal-V, produced in the Netherlands and approved for Europe, is already available for pre-order from €299,000.
