Photo: Alef – the flying car
California-based aeronautics company, Alef, has confirmed it will begin testing operations with other aircraft at Half Moon Bay and Hollister airports.
Alef has confirmed agreements with the two Silicon Valley airports to enable the company to begin operating at both locations. Test operations will include driving, vertical take-off, forward flight and vertical landing, the company confirmed in a news release.
Alef, which describes its vehicle as the “first true flying car in history”, will also test how its system integrate with common air traffic patterns. Explaining that the car does not need a runway, Alef said its vehicle is the first ever to perform as a road-legal passenger car that has vertical take-off and landing capabilities.
The collaboration with Half Moon Bay and Hollister Airports marks the first time the car will be tested at airport locations. This is significant as it will allow Alef to explore how its flying car will operate with aircraft in shared airspace.
While the vehicle is described first and foremost as a car, testing its capabilities in the electric aviation space is an exciting next step.
“Working in safe, controlled, non-towered airport environments will help Alef, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airport operators and pilots see how this will work in the future at scale,” the company said.
While both airports are expected to prioritise operations for traditional aircraft over the car during the testing period, they could ultimately end up as a future base for Alef’s future fleet of flying cars.
The all-electric vehicle, which falls under the “ultralight” classification will have a road range of around 200 miles and a flight range of 110 miles is expected to cost around USD300,000 when it goes on the market. It is currently available for pre-order with the company saying it has already received 3,200 pre-orders.
