A video of a flying car has been going viral on social media and news platforms in recent days. As a result, the car manufacturer has reported receiving a large number of pre-orders. Naturally, people are excited about a car that can take off and fly when stuck in a traffic jam.
The American company Alef Aeronautics, founded in 2015, has recently unveiled its first flying car. The company is promoting it as the world’s first flying car. In the video footage released by the company, a black-colored car can be seen taking off vertically from the ground and flying in the air. BBC’s senior technology journalist Chris Vallance has confirmed in his report that it is not an illusion but a real flying car.
Alef Aeronautics has set the initial price of the flying car at $300,000 (approximately 40 million NPR). It is a fully electric vehicle and has received a “Special Airworthiness Certificate” from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to American media reports. The company claims that a pilot was inside the car during the test flight.
This car can both drive on the road and fly in the air. It has an estimated driving range of 322 km and a flying range of 110 km per full charge. This means the car can fly continuously for 110 km once fully charged. However, it can accommodate only two people.
According to Alef CEO Jim Dukhovny, the public’s interest in this car has been overwhelming. The company has already received thousands of pre-orders and aims to start production within a year. In a video interview with BBC, he stated, “To drive this car, you need knowledge of both road and air traffic regulations. We are extremely concerned about safety and will not showcase it publicly until we ensure its complete safety for consumers.”
Dukhovny compared the recent test flight to the historic “Kitty Hawk” flight by the Wright brothers. On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers built and flew the Wright Flyer in North Carolina for 12 seconds, an event known as the Kitty Hawk flight. This moment is considered the beginning of modern aviation, as it laid the foundation for the air travel system.
Alef Aeronautics is not the only company working on flying cars. Major companies like Tesla, Hyundai, and Airbus are also developing similar vehicles. Some companies in Japan, China, and Europe have already entered the testing phase. However, beyond technological advancements, the legal approval process is a major challenge. In the United States, companies must comply with strict regulations from the FAA, including traffic laws, flight permits, and safety standards.
Nevertheless, if everything goes according to plan, commercially available flying cars could become a reality within a few years. One day, you too might be able to fly directly from your home to your office instead of driving on the road!