Just a couple of weeks ago...

…a video began circulating online, showing a car lifting off from the road and soaring over a parked vehicle - successfully, albeit a bit unsteadily. Unlike most so-called flying cars that resemble a small aircraft, this one actually looked like a car - because it was. Meet the Model A, Alef Aeronautics’ two-seat, all-electric flying car with a flight range of 110 miles.

With the ability to drive like a conventional vehicle and take off vertically when needed, the Model A is designed to seamlessly integrate into daily transportation. In July 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the Model A a special airworthiness certification, clearing the path for extensive testing and bringing the vehicle one step closer to reality. The futuristic design, shaped under the guidance of legendary automotive designer Hirash Razaghi (formerly of Bugatti and Jaguar), blends aerodynamics with a sleek & sporty, road-ready aesthetic, aiming to create a vehicle that people would actually want to drive (and fly). Judging by the online reactions, the buzz around this vehicle is only growing.

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 From napkin sketch to skyward dreams

In a strange twist of fate, the fall of 2015 saw two simultaneous events: one real, one fictional. Marty McFly, from Backt o the Future, arrived in October 2015 expecting flying cars. That same year, four tech visionaries met in a Palo Alto café, sketching out a real flying car on a napkin. Their constraints? It had to drive like a car, park like a car, take off vertically, and - most ambitiously - be affordable.

Of course, reality wasn’t as simple as a Hollywood script. What was estimated to take six months turned into years of research, development, and testing. By 2016, the team had built a sub-scale prototype. Then came wind tunnel tests, flow dynamics studies, and the installation of their proprietary propulsion system. To the team it wasn’t just about getting off the ground - it was about proving that this machine could be part of everyday commutes.

By 2018, Alef had successfully flown its first full-size skeleton model. A year later, a working full-size prototype took its maiden flight. It had been a long time coming. To ensure safety, the company pivoted to autonomous flight testing while continuing to refine the design. The car was well on its way to becoming exactly what they had envisioned - except for one rather foreseeable difference: with a staggering $300,000 pre-order price tag, it was still far from affordable.

The road (or sky?) ahead

Alef’s Model A isn’t just a futuristic concept - it’s a vehicle that’s gaining traction. With a clear vision and solid investor backing, the company has already secured 3,200 preorders, with deliveries planned for 2026. The vehicle is designed to blend into existing road and air infrastructure, and Alef hopes that its unique approach will make flying cars a practical reality rather than a luxury for the few.

The reality check

Of course, with innovation comes scepticism. Can this car really integrate into everyday life? What about regulations, infrastructure, and safety?  While Alef has taken major steps toward making the Model A road - and sky - ready, questions remain about how air traffic will be managed when (not if) flying cars become a norm in the future. (Traffic jams and accidents in the sky sound like a nightmare). As one aviation expert puts it, "Regulatory approval is a bigger hurdle than the engineering itself. But once that’s solved, the sky is literally the limit. "In Alefs CGI video adequately Titled “Highway In The Sky” it seems to look like a little bit of regulation could go a far way to revolutionise how we get from A-B.

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So, should you start saving up for one?

While the dream of flying cars is no longer just that, the reality is still unfolding. But one thing is for sure - Alef Aeronautics is making history, and if things go as planned, your next traffic jam might just soon be a thing of the past.

Still, even if Alef clears the technical and regulatory hurdles, one question remains: will flying cars ever become apart of daily life, or will they stay a niche product for the wealthy? The first automobiles were once a luxury, as were commercial airplanes - until progress and mass production made them accessible to the public. Will the same happen here, or will the flying car remain an exclusive toy for the ultra-rich?For now, very likely. Alef is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether this vision takes off for everyone or stays grounded in exclusivity is a question only time will tell.

Quick facts about the Alef Model A:

• Flight range: 110 miles
• Driving range: ~200 miles
• Top speed (ground): 25 mph (yes, you’re not buying this for highway speeds!)
• Planned first deliveries: 2026
• Preorder cost: $300,000 (ouch... but hey, it's a flying car!)

‍Picture Copyright: Alef Aeronautics

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