The year 1903 was a momentous one in the history of automobiles and aviation. Within months of each other, Henry Ford founded his eponymous car company, and the Wright brothers took their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Ford was so taken with the achievement that he later had the Wrights’ workshop moved to his museum near Detroit.
The desire to merge automobiles and airplanes has persisted, turning up in a new form every few years, from the Curtiss Autoplane of 1917 to the “Sky Flivver” attempted by Ford himself in 1926. After World War II, interest boomed with efforts from Convair, the Fulton Airphibian, and the Bryan Autoplane. There was even an effort in the 1970s called the AVE Mizar that married the back half of a Cessna airplane to a Pinto. Yes really, and it actually flew!
Now the flying car idea is back again, and this time most proponents are looking to electric power for flying and driving. Efforts from companies large and small include producers such as AirCar, Samson Switchblade, and even industry giants such as Toyota, Hyundai and GM are getting in on the research into fixed wing flying cars and perhaps more sensibly, drones big enough to carry a person. Among the companies working towards flying cars today, California Bay Area-based Alef Aeronautics seems to be getting a lift.
Alef moves up
Most flying car efforts are still working in the lab, but Alef Aeronautics announced Tuesday that it reached 2,500 pre-orders representing $750 million in revenue upon delivery. This includes 2,100 deposits from individuals, and B2B agreements with businesses for sale of 400 cars, including an agreement with a California car dealership.
In June, TheDetroitBureau.com reported that Alef became the first traditional electric car to receive a limited Special Airworthiness Certificate from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). That shows a level of progress beyond most efforts.
On the business side, Alef maintains these deposits signify a proof of market demand from both individuals and corporations for the new mode of transportation, giving the company valuable insights into future market demographics and breakdown of the initial customer base for flying cars.
“We’re excited to see such strong initial demand for the Alef flying car,” said Jim Dukhovny, CEO of Alef. “We’re thankful for the notes of gratitude and inspiration we received with some of the pre-orders. We still have a road to go before starting deliveries, but where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
As TheDetroitBureau.com reported, Alef emerged from stealth mode last October and unveiled the first flying car with functionality and look of a traditional car as well as vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Alef’s flying car is available for pre-sale for $300,00, but you can pay just $150 to join the regular queue or $1,500 for a priority queue deposit. Pre-orders were opened on the same day on the company’s website.
Alef says its flying car, called the Model A, is 100% electric, drivable on public roads, and has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. The car will carry one or two occupants. The company has a second vehicle in the works, called the Model Z, that it hopes will carry up to four people and cost about $35,000. That model is planned to hit the market in 2035.
Competition is close behind
In addition to Alef, Florida-based Doroni Aerospace, founded in 2016 by serial entrepreneur Doron Merdinger, recently announced that the company has successfully completed over 50 test flights of its electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the Doroni Aerospace H1.
The Doroni Aerospace eVTOL looks a bit more like an airplane than the Alef product, but still uses four drone-like propellers to lift off and fly. Doroni says its vehicle will offer autonomous flight capabilities and integrated navigation systems to ensure safe and reliable operations. Doroni also claims an impressive, targeted range of up to 60 miles on a single charge. The company plans to increase this range to 100 miles as battery and motor technology advances.
“We are beyond thrilled with the remarkable success of our flight tests, which has truly showcased the immense capabilities of the Doroni eVTOL,” Merdinger said.
Doroni’s flying car is currently available for pre-order and the company states that it has already begun receiving deposits. With an estimated starting retail price of $250,000, the Doroni H1 is designed to fit in a standard two-car garage. To get started, customers will need a current valid driver’s license and to complete a 20-hour training course, provided by the company, to ensure a safe and seamless experience.
As yet, no one has a flying car available for sale to the general public, but if your commuting daydream is to soar over traffic on your way to work, several companies are making progress towards realizing your dreams. Al