Named the Model A, the first US government-approved flying car is a massive drone with a pod in the middle, literally.
The Alef Aeronautics Model A is an electric flying car designed to be daily driven. It made its initial debut last year and only recently received a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for test flight clearance. As a result, the manufacturer can now fly some of its prototypes but must report any malfunctions or issues discovered during the test back to the FAA. It’s still far from being approved for mass production but it’s definitely one step closer to making the long-forgotten dream of a flying car come true.
While giving the public control over a flying vehicle may sound like a bad idea, this US-made flying car isn’t as scary as you think. It’s worth noting the Alef Model A is a low-speed and low-altitude flying vehicle, so chances of seeing it transform into a giant fireball in the sky are minimal. And yes, it won’t intervene with commercial planes and jets cruising at over 500 mph and 31,000+ feet above the ground.
As it adopts the eVTOL principles, Alef’s Model A does not require much space for take-offs and landings — see it like a drone, with the ability to fly and land vertically. Not only does this makes for easier control, but it also allows the car to fly without wings, making it look subtler and less intimidating — even the manufacturer claims the Model A to be the first “normal-looking” flying car.
To generate enough lift to leave the surface of the Earth, the Model A is powered by eight electric motors. The blades are covered with a mesh imitating a normal car’s bodywork, so it’s less likely to hurt anyone by accident. The whole setup is good enough to cover a range of 110 miles in the air or 200 miles on the road.
Interestingly, the concept of flying cars has been with us since the late 1800s, but every attempt until now seemed to have failed at the prototype phase for many reasons. Due to safety concerns, impractical real-world scenarios, and regulation issues, that dream was sort of forgotten for a while. Yet as time progressed, so did the technology and aviation industry, and we’re now closer than ever to making flying cars a reality.
The Model A is now available for pre-order and set to be delivered in 2025. Alef claims it has already received over $250 million worth of pre-orders, making it clear that several customers are more than ready for such a futuristic project. However, considering the $300,000 price tag, it’s definitely not a poor man’s toy either. But for the price of a Ferrari or Lamborghini, you’d get something that won’t risk being stuck in traffic, while also turning a lot more heads than a “normal” supercar — we can see the appeal here.
For more details or to pre-order yours, visit Alef Aeronautics’ website.
Gallery: 2025 Alef Aeronautics Model A
