The Alef Model A, a flying car developed by Alef Aeronautics, a company specializing in automobiles and aeronautics, recently received a special certificate of airworthiness from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). That will allow Alef to conduct further testing, as well as demonstration flights, in the near future.
Named Armada Model Zero, the vehicle is a precursor to the Model A prototype that Alef Aeronautics unveiled in October 2022. The all-electric “Model A” is designed to take off and land vertically, putting it in the emerging category of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft).
The Alef is being designed to have 200 miles of road range or 110 miles of airborne range, and can carry a max of just two people. According to the company’s website, the flying car will be certified as a “low-speed vehicle”, meaning it will not be able to exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) on a paved road. However, approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still required before the Alef can be put on the road.
The Model A is designed to have a car-like body through which air can flow vertically, allowing eight fans hidden behind the body panels to work. More to the point, Alef Aeronautics claims that the vehicle will be able to fit anywhere a modern car does, making it a true flying car, not just an electric vertical take off and landing pod with wheels.
Alef Aeronautics plans to start production and deliveries of its Model A at the end of 2025, priced at $300,000. The electric model can be pre-ordered on the Alef website for a token fee of $150.