05 July 2023 , 10:23
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Back to the Future style flying cars have been approved for test flights by the US government- but will set customers back $300,000.
Alef, a California-based aeronautics company, Is now allowed to fly cars in limited locations after receiving a Special Airworthiness Certification from the Federal Aviation Administration on June 12.
The company's Armada Model Zero aircraft has been worked on since 2015, which is the year named in the classic sci-film "Back to the Future II."
Four friends, Constantine Kisly, Pavel Markin, Oleg Petrov and Dukhovny, decided to form the company to try to develop them after being inspired by the flying cars.
Alef unveiled a prototype last year, which was called Model A, and is a street-legal car that can ride on roads and park in normal parking spaces.
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Artist visualisation of the Alef Model A flying car (Alef Aeronautics / SWNS)The car, which is electric, can take off vertically and fly through the air in any direction, according to the company, and has a flying range of 110 miles.
In addition, it also has a driving range of 200 miles and can carry one or two occupants.
The FAA said in a statement to CBS: "This certificate allows the aircraft to be used for limited purposes, including exhibition, research and development.
The car would be able to drive on roads and take off to avoid traffic jams (Alef Aeronautics / SWNS)"This is not the first aircraft of its kind for which the FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate."
Alef said that it needed the FAA’s special airworthiness certificate to continue conducting important research and development as it looks to the future.
Alef CEO Jim Dukhovn believes the certification will allow them to bring faster commutes to people - with passengers able to fly out of traffic jams.
However, the car still needs approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to go on roads.
The cars could beat the rush hour (Alef Aeronautics / SWNS)He said: "We're excited to receive this certification from the FAA. It allows us to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week.
"This is a one small step for planes, one giant step for cars."
However, the price of the electric ride is $300,000 and resembles a sports car with its sleek and grey exterior look.
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The vehicle has hidden propellers and a gimbaled driving cab to help stabilise the drive and passenger.
The quirky car would set customers back $300,000 (Alef Aeronautics / SWNS)According to its website, the company aims to create "the fastest and most convenient transport ever created from the point of origin to the final destination," calling its product "the solution to the issues of modern congestion."
According to the company, there had been 440 pre-orders for the $300,00 vehicle in January.
It is set to start production and be completed in late 2025.
Alef is also working on a four-person sedan, which the company hopes to release in 2035.